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WHEN the tournament commenced in the last quarter of 2012, no one in their wildest dreams would have or could have predicted that the little-known Eagles Football Club of Stewartville on the West Coast of Demerara would have emerged as the champions of the 2012 Trophy Stall-sponsored West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Under-17 League. But that’s just how the script ended last Saturday evening at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground and in epic fashion as well, with sudden-death penalty kicks being used to separate both teams, after the score was locked 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
Even when the five stipulated penalty kicks were exhausted, the score was locked at 4 and it was the little-known side who held their nerve and composure to silence the home crowd as the afternoon sun started to set; and a new champion was born on the West Side.
The third-place game saw no such excitement and nerves as Bagotville/Nimes brushed aside Wales United 3-0 with goals being scored off the boots of Shawn Patrick (6th), Kevin Richards (15th) and Chris King in the 48th minute.
Eagles United, based at Stewartville absorbed lots of pressure from a well-organised Den Amstel side which no doubt was the more oiled unit on the day, but in the final analysis, the Stewartville lads kept the focus all along to emerge as victors, their first title having been together for just over one year.
The best goalkeeper of the tournament, Rockey Reddy (Eagles FC) was definitely ready for the big stage, bringing off some point blank saves during the course of the game, capping a solid game when he denied Den Amstel’s Kevin Dundas’ sudden-death penalty kick saving at the right post to send his team and supporters into wild celebrations. That save was done after he saw his teammate Travis Bagot score the first kick in the sudden death segment.
During regulation time, it was Den Amstel that took the lead almost on the stroke of halftime after some probing football that tested the Eagles defence and goalkeeper but they finally wilted under the pressure.
Given the performance of Eagles in the first half though, it was not going to be easy for Den Amstel to walk over their opponents. The home team continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges but lacked the focus and discipline in the final third to put away the chances they created.
The tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Eagles captain Ezekiel Cox led with authority and kept his side together and focused in testing times. With the clock ticking away, many felt that the game would have ended 1-0 in favour of the home team but that was not to be.
With one minute to go, casual goalkeeping on the part of Den Amstel’s Kevis Fraser allowed the ball from a long range shot to slip through his fingers as he leaped in the air. It settled at the back of the nets, tying the game 1-1.
From that point, Eagles never looked back as they drove home the advantage. Paul Miggins, Omari Haynes, Aubrey Greene and Akeem Hector all scored for Den Amstel; Gavin Graham missed the final kick of the stipulated five.
For Eagles, their second shot rebounded off the crossbar, Seon Mills failing to direct his shot past Fraser. They were, however, on target through Mervin Frank, Stephon Bentick, Jason Carroll and Clem Brotherson.
The presentation ceremony will take place at a venue and date to be announced.
Even when the five stipulated penalty kicks were exhausted, the score was locked at 4 and it was the little-known side who held their nerve and composure to silence the home crowd as the afternoon sun started to set; and a new champion was born on the West Side.
The third-place game saw no such excitement and nerves as Bagotville/Nimes brushed aside Wales United 3-0 with goals being scored off the boots of Shawn Patrick (6th), Kevin Richards (15th) and Chris King in the 48th minute.
Eagles United, based at Stewartville absorbed lots of pressure from a well-organised Den Amstel side which no doubt was the more oiled unit on the day, but in the final analysis, the Stewartville lads kept the focus all along to emerge as victors, their first title having been together for just over one year.
The best goalkeeper of the tournament, Rockey Reddy (Eagles FC) was definitely ready for the big stage, bringing off some point blank saves during the course of the game, capping a solid game when he denied Den Amstel’s Kevin Dundas’ sudden-death penalty kick saving at the right post to send his team and supporters into wild celebrations. That save was done after he saw his teammate Travis Bagot score the first kick in the sudden death segment.
During regulation time, it was Den Amstel that took the lead almost on the stroke of halftime after some probing football that tested the Eagles defence and goalkeeper but they finally wilted under the pressure.
Given the performance of Eagles in the first half though, it was not going to be easy for Den Amstel to walk over their opponents. The home team continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges but lacked the focus and discipline in the final third to put away the chances they created.
The tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Eagles captain Ezekiel Cox led with authority and kept his side together and focused in testing times. With the clock ticking away, many felt that the game would have ended 1-0 in favour of the home team but that was not to be.
With one minute to go, casual goalkeeping on the part of Den Amstel’s Kevis Fraser allowed the ball from a long range shot to slip through his fingers as he leaped in the air. It settled at the back of the nets, tying the game 1-1.
From that point, Eagles never looked back as they drove home the advantage. Paul Miggins, Omari Haynes, Aubrey Greene and Akeem Hector all scored for Den Amstel; Gavin Graham missed the final kick of the stipulated five.
For Eagles, their second shot rebounded off the crossbar, Seon Mills failing to direct his shot past Fraser. They were, however, on target through Mervin Frank, Stephon Bentick, Jason Carroll and Clem Brotherson.
The presentation ceremony will take place at a venue and date to be announced.
