SECOND half goals that came off the boot of Keon Hall and Trenton Lashley, were enough to hand Linden’s Amelia’s Ward United a hard fought 2-0 victory over Bartica’s Millballers and in the process send them crashing out of the

23rd annual Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament, which kicked off at the Georgetown Football Club ground last night.
A very appreciative crowd including long term supporter of the tournament in Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, graced the venue with their presence to witness what can be described as an enthralling start to a tournament that is keenly looked forward to by the local footballing public.
Certainly, both Amelia’s Ward and Millballers did not disappoint, as they took the first three minutes of the contest to adjust to the soggy conditions underfoot, before the victorious skipper Travis Watterton sent a shot to goal, which was comfortably held by Andreade Stoby in between the uprights for Millballers.
From there onwards, it was all Amelia’s Ward, who swarmed their opponents like a bee scenting a new hive, as both Watterton and Keon Sears saw their shot which was taken deep inside Millballers third, sailing over the bar.
Not to be outdone, Millballers’ Jermaine Christian made a solo run from within his own half, deep inside Amelia’s Ward half, and were it not for a selfish act, wherein he opted to take the shot, albeit a feeble one, that was saved by Odel Allicock- instead of sending a pass to Jyson Mc Norton or Andel Norton who were both unmarked. Millballers muffed the opportunity to go ahead, just before lemon time.
Several other goal scoring opportunities were squandered by both sides, before referee Sherwin Johnson closed off the first half, with the scoreline reading nil all.
When play resumed in the second half, a purposeful looking Amelia’s Ward United continued to attack their opponents relentlessly, seeing a Lashley corner being blocked by their opponent’s defence, who proved equal to the task.
Following several exchanges at midfield, where both teams sought to seize the initiative but were denied doing such, Kevon Plowell, who was having an exemplary night in the field at left back for Amelia’s Ward, sent a wonderful through ball to an unmarked Hall.
Operating in the mould of a true striker, the lanky Hall made a neat turn, rounded his marker and sent a wonderful shot to the left of a diving Stoby, beating the outstretched hands of the custodian as the ball nestled into the back of the net in the 63rd minute of play.
Five minutes later and Watterton positioned himself over a free kick, after Hall was brought down at the top of the box.
The ensuing shot was blocked by Stoby, but an alert Lashley, who like Plowell was having an easy day in the field for his team, latched onto the loose and calmly patted it past Stoby, to hand his team a 2-0 cushion.
Watterton, Lashley, Quacy Johnson and Michael Crandon marshaled their team’s defence to the last punctuation mark, denying Millballers the opportunity of scoring and reducing the deficit and when they did score, the flag of the second assistant referee was airborne, signaling half side.
At the other end of the field, Amelia’s Ward Amarlon Simon along with Watterton, Lashley and Keon Sears, put together a series of passes from within their own half, all the way to Millballers third, where an intended pass to Hall was intercepted by Stoby.
Derwyn Luke had the golden opportunity of handing his team their third goal in the 88th minute of the contest, after he rounded three of his markers, eluded an advancing Stoby but sent a feeble shot to goal, wherein the ball failed to cross the line, despite the valiant efforts of Simon.
It was the last hurrah of the contest, as Johnson noticed the time had expired on his watch and sent the shrill sound of his whistle, which had not only brought the game to a halt, but sent Millballers packing while Amelia’s Ward advanced to face the winner of Sunday’s opening fixture between Milerock and Den Amstel on Boxing Day in Buxton.
Following the march past of all 16 participating teams and the opening ceremony for this year’s tournament, which has at stake G$4M to the winner and one Toyota Allex motor car to the Most Valuable Player, former champions Pele took on Buxton Stars in the second fixture, details of which will be published in tomorrow’s edition of the Chronicle Sport.