Timehri hand Agricola first loss; Soesdyke needle Diamond

THE first round of the Stag Beer-sponsored East Bank Football Association division-one league is set to end today when frontrunners Grove Hi-Tech match skills with bottom-of-the-table Mocha Champs at the Grove playfield.
The home team, sharing the same points as Soesdyke Falcons and Timehri Panthers, will be seeking to pull clear of their rivals ahead of the second and final round of matches.In yesterday’s play, the previously unbeaten Agricola Red Triangle suffered their first defeat of the tournament going down to Timehri Panthers by the lone goal.
The opening game ended in similar fashion – Diamond suffering at the hands of Soesdyke Falcons as the former missed from the penalty spot.
Both matches saw end-to-end action as the teams continued to labour with a view of ensuring they walk away with the first prize of $300 000. As it stands, it is too close to call and fans can anticipate a keen second round.
The first half of the Timehri Panthers/Agricola Red Triangle showdown ended without either team able to break the deadlock as goals dried up on either end of play. Agricola, back in competitive football on the East Bank after a long hiatus started the league as hungry lions but have been kept in check in their last three games, tasting defeat for the first time in their final first round match.
Collis Massiah made the difference in the match with a 64th blast that ended up being exactly what the doctor ordered for Timehri.
The tone in terms of goals was set in the first game of the afternoon, Soesdyke Falcons winning by a similar margin against the ever-improving Diamond United, who had the opportunity to take a point from the game but failed at the penalty spot.
This encounter was, however, decided much earlier, Roger Dey netting for Soesdyke in the 24th minute of play.
The final first-round game today will kick off at 15:00hrs between Grove Hi-Tech and Mocha Champs.