10-man Grove defeat Timehri in high energy clash; Agricola get past Diamond

HOME team Grove Hi Tech further strengthened their push for championship honours in the Stag Beer sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) division one league with a heart throbbing come-from-behind 3-2 over Timehri Panthers with one player less last Sunday afternoon.The very physical encounter which saw Referee Wilton Bobb having to pull out all the stops to maintain control and keep the players focused, was decided in the final 25 minutes following a 0-0 first half.

Even before any goal was scored, Grove, current points leaders found themselves on the back foot when Delroy Dodson was booked for the second time in the game and had to leave the playing area in the 66th minute.

At this juncture, the boys from Timehri who were holding their own and playing on an even keel with Grove, fancied their chances of pulling off a win to reverse what transpired in the first round when they lost 3-0.

Timehri backed up that belief when they broke the deadlock in the 68th minute when Collis Messiah’s well placed shot to the right of custodian Michael Matthews found the back of the nets.

Many of the Timehri fans were fancying their chances of a win, but even as the Grove supporters went silent, the boys from Grove had other ideas. They [Grove] were awarded a free kick from about 25 metres out, defender Clive Matthews Jr. stepped up to take the shot.

One of the Timehri supporters shouted out, “He can’t bend it like Beckham,” but that is exactly what Matthews did as his curling shot from right to left, eluded the hands of 17-year-old goalkeeper, Clitus Johnson who otherwise, had an excellent game.

Grove equalised in the 70th minute much to the delight of their fans. Johnson brought off some acrobatic saves as the rampant Grove forward line led by Captain Domini Garnett never relented even though they were a player less.

Grove took the lead in the 79th minute when Garnett netted the first of his double as he took matters into his own hands. The solid and cool tempered Garnett led the challenge for his side, admirably.
But the action wasn’t yet over, Timehri equalized in the 81st minute through Hilton Baptiste to bring back balance to proceedings but the home team wasn’t satisfied with sharing points.
Captain Garnett, who had the Timehri defenders focused on him once again, outfoxed them with six minutes to full time, blasting in the winning goal in the 84th minute.

The day’s opening game produced a 2-1 win for Agricola Red Triangle over Diamond United, when the two sides met in the first round, the game ended in a draw.

Agricola took the lead in the 4th minute through Gordon Grant but Diamond balanced the scale in the 28th minute, Tshawan Blackman the player on target. The outcome of the encounter was settled one minute to half-time when Agricola’s Kacy John rocked the back of the nets.
Competition will continue on Sunday at the same venue.