… Slingerz FC held to a draw by Buxton United

IF ANYONE still wants to question Alpha United’s number one-ranking legitimacy, then maybe he should try watching another sport in Guyana.The ‘Hammers’ as they are popularly known, did not just end the Vizion Sounds Entertainment Goodwill tournament unbeaten, they also did not concede a goal, and scored eight in the process, including a 5-0 drubbing over their presumed rivals – Slingerz FC
A 69th minute goal from Dwight Peters saw Alpha United past Boys’ Town FC when the curtain came down on the tournament on Sunday evening at the Georgetown Football Club ground.
The event marked the first time since the days of the disbanded Caribbean Professional Football League that a Jamaican football club has visited Guyana, stretching back 21 years ago.
Boys’ Town, who play in the Red Stripe Jamaican Premier League are one of the Island’s most storied club and a competitive one as well.
With the Wayne Dover-coached side preparing to represent Guyana at this Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship in Jamaica (against Harborview and T&T Defence Force), the tournament was seen as important in relation to fine-tuning their beefed-up squad.
Watched by a massive crowd at the venue, the game was played at a very high tempo and physical; so physical it resulted in referee Sherwin Williams issuing several yellow cards and a subsequent red to Jamaica captain and defender Wayne Ellis (for his second booking).
Both teams played more cautiously than ever, most of the time resorting to falling back deep into their half and countering when the chance is given.
The crowd was certainly into the game and some even let their frustration of the sometimes stale encounter heard since they came expecting a heated battle.
Grenadian striker Kithson Bain and national forward Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson both threatened the Jamaican custodian periodically but the match was played flat and had nothing much for spectators to be ‘wowed’ about.
The win capped off a more than satisfactory run by Alpha United whose biggest victory came over Slingerz FC last Friday.
It was the third meeting between the two top clubs and the only difference is, this time, the margin of victory for the ‘Hammers’ over ‘FC Hollywood’ was bigger.
Alpha have now scored ten goals against Slingerz who only managed to pierce the Odinga Lumumba-owned team’s defence three times.
For Boys’ Town FC, they head back to Jamaica a happy bunch, according to coach Andrew Price, “We’re satisfied with the results, we didn’t do too badly and we hope that we can take this momentum back to Jamaica in the Premier League. We enjoyed our time in Guyana and I look forward to coming again and even seeing one of these teams in Jamaica.”
The Jamaicans first drew 1-1 with Slingerz FC in their first game, thanks to a 90th minute goal from Peter Keys after Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams had given the Guyanese club the lead.
They then went on to defeat a young Buxton United team 3-1 in Buxton on Friday then losing to Alpha United 1-0.