…   Berbicians dominate Mackeson Masters Football Tournament
HEARTS of Oaks Masters Football Club of Berbice became the inaugural Georgetown Masters Football Association 2012 Mackeson Easter Classic Tournament  champions when they defeated Georgetown Football Club Masters in penalty shootout after being  deadlocked at 3-3 in an exciting final on Sunday night at the GFC ground. Before a fair-sized crowd the Berbicians also won the Best Disciplined Team Award donated by former FIFA referee Otis James, as their teammate Terrence ‘Old Head” Lewis copped the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.
GFC’s ace forward Shawn ‘Berbician’ Daniels  won the Highest Goal Scorer prize, and  another Berbician, Jolyn Lewis,  playing for Santos Masters, demonstrated great football skills scoring four goals for his team.
In action on the field, Hearts of Oaks opened their score sheet with a corner from former national defender Sherwin Forde, brother of ace forward Adrian Forde in the 15th minute but Clayton McCloud equalised with a 25-yard shot against Berbician goalkeeper, the former national player Kenrick Bowry, to score in the 32nd minute. The score line remained unchanged at the end of the first half.
On resumption the Bourda Blues turned up the pressure with possession and quick attacks to the Hearts of Oaks goal which paid off in the 36th minute with  Clifford Ruffino taking his team into the lead 2-1, as they continued to push the Hearts of Oaks defenders to work.
It was not too long after, that the Bourda Blues struck again through Daniels to send them 3-1 up, as the crowd rejoiced for the home team.
All was not lost as the true Hearts of Oaks  responded with a Monty ‘Hammie’ Fordyce’s 52nd minute goal reviving his team to set the score close to equalising 3-2.
Hearts of Oaks forward Forde then took on the Bourda defenders to the goal and was fouled in the penalty area where he earned a penalty and to the surprise of many threw away his chance, as Bourda goalkeeper Gordon Joseph saved it.
Hardworking midfield and former national player Terrence ‘Old head’ Lewis then in the 67th minute equalised and forced the game to the penalty spot to decide the winners.
GFC drew first blood and continued with the Berbicians scoring until sudden death was introduced and a GFC player missed the goal. Former national goalkeeper Phillip Carrington, the hero of the semifinals, returned in similar vein and converted to secure the victory for Hearts of Oaks.
Santos Masters carted off the third place winning over Brazimex 4-1 with a second-half comeback, as they found the remaining players to compete against a depleted opponent.
Lewis scored all four goals for Santos in the second half and secured their third place victory despite they were down 0-1 in the first half to Brazimex.
Brazimex dominated the possession in the first half and frustrated the attacking forwards of Santos, who failed to convert their goal-scoring opportunities. Brazimex scored through Lawrence December in the 16th minute.
The second half saw Lewis score in the 20th 41st, 50th and 56th minutes as his team copped the third place of $100 000 with $50 000 going to the Brazimex side as the fourth-placers in the tournament.
Rastafari Patriots, after conceding a walkover from Top Klass came out with the spirit of Lion of Judah to hold Conquerors to an exciting goal-less game. Conquerors had also secured their place through a walkover from East Coast.
The Rastas had several goal-scoring opportunities but squandered all through their forwards.
Several quick breaks on attacking saw the orange side stall and force the dreadlocks forward to shoot off-target.
Conquerors during the latter half of the game found a few shots on target but they were well saved by the goalkeeper and denied them the lead in the game.
The penalty shootout ended in sudden death with the Rastafari Patriots winning.
The presentation ceremony followed and Hearts of Oaks carted off the Mackeson trophy and $500 000, while GFC got $200 000 and the runner-up prize.