Agricola arrest Soesdyke; Diamond needle Mocha

ON a sunny Sunday afternoon in the village of Grove on the East Bank of Demerara, Agricola Red Triangle maintained their excellent form in a performance that ensured that they take back the lead in the Stag Beer/East Bank Football Association (EBFA) division-one league with a solid 5-0 win over Soesdyke Falcons in feature play of a double-header at the Grove Playfield.The day’s curtain-raiser saw Diamond Football Club record their first win of the league when they needled Mocha Champs to seal their first points of the competition.
Agricola, a very offensive-minded side, maintained that billing with another compact performance. They opened the scoring in the 15th minute after being awarded a corner which was taken by Travis Welch.
Welch’ shot sailed across the goal and past all the Soesdyke players to find a lurking Gordon Grant at the last post. Grant’s first time volley quickly settled at the back of the nets as goalkeeper Javier Greene had no chance to avert the goal. It was the first of three for Grant.
Constant pressure by the Agricola side resulted in a penalty being awarded 35 minutes on. Grant was entrusted with the shot and did not disappoint as he buried the shot past Greene.
Welch’s hard work paid off for him with a goal of his own five minutes into the second half to increase the lead, 3-0. Soesdyke have only themselves to blame, they were just not able to get it right in the attacking third while their opponents ensured that they were clinical in that department.
Such was the pressure on the Soesdyke lads that they gave away an own goal in the 77th minute, compliments of Collin Holder. Agricola were just not satisfied with a 4-0 win and continued to take the attack to Soesdyke.
Grant was unstoppable again with ten minutes to full time with another well-taken shot that sailed into the back of the nets across the flat-footed Greene, Agricola 5 Soesdyke 0. The win took Agricola to 9 points, the same as Timehri Panthers but the former have a better goal difference of plus 14 to the latter’s, plus 6.
The Diamond/Mocha Champs clash was a keen tussle between two sides that were chasing their first win of the league. The exchanges were even throughout as neither side allowed the other any leverage in the final third.
But it was Diamond who shone bright when it mattered and took the opportunities when they came their way to score. Lenardo Cottam who was a constant bother to the Mocha defenders nailed his opportunity in the 58th minute to give his side the lead.
As it turned out, that was the golden goal of the match that brought Diamond their first points and second goal of the season.
As the competition heats up more action is set for Sunday at the same venue.