,,, Coleridge, Kamal hit opening night doubles

DEFENDING champions Sparta Boss signalled their intentions to not give up their Mackeson ‘Keep Your Five Alive’ title easily, with a 2-0 victory over Kitty, on the second night of action in the fourth edition of the tournament, which was contested at the East Ruimveldt, California Square tarmac.

Two second-half goals which were scored five minutes apart by scorers, whose names were not provided, guided the defending champions to the win on a night which saw Costello Housing Scheme being awarded a walkover victory by their opponents from Victoria, even as three other teams used penalty kicks to advance.
On the opening night of action, Joshua Kamal and Rensford Coleridge both had double strikes for their respective teams, who won their opening night matches easily, as several teams also advanced to the next round of action.
Playing in the first game on the previous night for Sophia, Joshua Kamal saw his elder brother Sheik find the back of the net in the 4th minute, before he followed up with his double scored in the 11th and 20th minutes of play, handing their side a comfortable 3-0 win over debutants Beterverwagting.
In the second game, Albouystown ‘B’ needed a sudden-death penalty kick victory, which they won via a 4-3 scoreline to get rid of Turkeyen, after regulation time ended with the scores locked at nil-all, while Broad Street disposed of Riverview 3-1 on penalty kicks, following their 1-1 draw, with Kevin Griffith (18th) and Jamal Codrington (16th) scoring for Broad Street and Riverview respectively.
Host team California Square were handed their marching orders quietly from the tournament by a determined La Parfaite Harmonie lineup, who won the contest 3-2 on penalty kicks after a nil-all draw, even as Back Circle through Andy Duke’s 3rd and Daniel Favourite 8th minute goals came away with a 2-0 win over Alberttown.
Coleridge then scored his double in the 2nd and 17th minutes of play as Tiger Bay ‘A’ came away with a 2-1 win over Charlestown, whose goal was scored by Dexter Marshall in the 15th minute, to complete the opening night of action last Saturday night.
When play continued at the same venue last Sunday night, Leopold Street, Texas and West Front Road were all victorious from the penalty spot in their fixtures over Island All Stars, Plaisance and Bent Street respectively, with Victoria being a no-show and Sparta Boss breaking the penalty spot victories with their regulation time win over Kitty.
The action will continue this Saturday in Albouystown, when five more first-round matches will be contested. From the following Saturday, it shifts to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall tarmac, with the playing of the round of 16. The semifinals and finals will be contested at the same venue one week later.

(By Calvin Roberts)