Defending champs Alpha United and Milerock come away with opening wins
NATIONAL club champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United of Georgetown overcame a cautious start to the defence of their National Super League title when they eased past a spirited challenge from Amelia’s Ward United of Linden, registering a 2-0 win. And the team which placed second when the last championship was staged in 2010, CBR Mining Milerock, opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over City-side BK International Western Tigers last Sunday night, as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)-organised prestigious inter-club championship got under way at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden.
Playing in the first game of the night’s double-header Alpha United found the going not that easy in the first half as both sides battled for possession with no quarters given.
A draw, it seemed, would be a plus for Amelia’s Ward against the national champions and this was evident in the formation by the Linden side, where emphasis was placed with five men in defence when Alpha United were attempting to mount their offence.
The first half ended with the home fans, somewhat satisfied that Alpha United were unable to penetrate, especially with a stand-in goalkeeper between the uprights for Amelia’s Ward.
However, the second half saw the visitors being more aggressive and from one of the forays inside Manasseh Primo was able to send the ball into the back of the net in the 74th minute for a 1-0 lead.
Still Amelia’s Ward United held their own in this game but the experienced Alpha United would have none of their adventurous challenges and they sealed victory two minutes into injury time through striker Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams on an assist from Shavin Seaforth in the 92nd minute.
Linden football fans then saw their other top side CBR Mining  Milerock take the field, but they were jolted when a squared ball from Jarrel Tyndall was sent to the back of the net by Phillip Rowley in the 16th minute as the visitors took the lead.
However, Milerock recovered from that first-half setback and after play resumed they made a number of inroads into the box. On one occasion one of their forwards was brought down in the box and the experienced defender Marlon Maxius walked up and jabbed the resultant penalty shot home to even the scores in the 54th minute for Milerock.
But the Tigers ended the game two men short after they were reduced to ten men in the 56th minute when Ryan Adolph was went off and later in the 70th minute Ned Fraser was given marching orders by referee Stanley Lancaster.
But four minutes after the equaliser by Milerock, the ball was played out from the defence of the Tigers and Keon ‘Left-Foot’ Cameron, collecting a free ball, utilised the space given from approximately 25 yards out to send a swirling left-foot shot that saw the ball swirl high and dip just below the cross bar in the 58th minute.
Actually the goalkeeper for the Western Tigers was caught out of his den and off his line and could not get back in time.
But the game could have ended in a deadlock when the Tigers’ Paul Giles was able to uncork a powerful shot that was heading into the goal, but for the presence of Milerock’s Derrol Dainty, who headed the ball in the opposite direction just minutes before the final whistle came, and Milerock won the game 2-1.