… Agricola get past Timehri

GROVE Hi Tech solidified their hold at the top of the standings with a workmanlike 9-1 drubbing of Diamond United while Agricola Red Triangle took care of Timehri Panthers 3-1 when rivalry in the Stag Beer/East Bank Football Association (EBFA) division-one league continued last Sunday at the Grove Playfield.Led by their captain and the competition’s leading goalscorer Domini Garnett (13 goals) who blasted a hat-trick, Grove proved to be too much for Diamond to handle on a cool Sunday afternoon which saw a damp pitch owing to Saturday’s heavy rainfall which left the ground waterlogged and also resulted in the postponement of the CULT Under-17 semifinals.
However, on Sunday there were no damp feelings in terms of the on-field play. Diamond drew first blood in just the second minute of play when Mark Jhingoree’s looping shot from the left side was too well-paced for goalkeeper Michael Matthews to handle as it eased over his outstretched fingers into the back of the net.
Diamond were happy to at least put their opponents on the back foot even if it was for a few minutes and as it turned out it was indeed for a few short minutes, as the home team fired back to cancel out the lead in the 6th minute with Sherman Doris firing past custodian Andre Gibbs.
Clive Matthews Jr eased Grove into the lead with a well-taken free kick from about 30 yards out. Gibbs and the Diamond defence could not keep it out in the 12th minute. Even at this juncture, Diamond looked as if they were going to keep up with Grove but couldn’t find their touch that brought the opening goal.
Colin Lancaster netted the first of his brace in the 19th minute before captain Garnett tucked in his first in the 38th minute. Lancaster hit the network again in the 40th minute; Grove’s fifth ended the half 5-1.
In the second half there was no stopping Grove as they fired in four more. Garnett was on target again (64th, 67th) and Joel Dick, who came on in the second half also inked his name on the score sheet (79th minute); three minutes earlier, John Matthews converted.
The win for Grove has put them six points ahead of their closest rival, Soesdyke Falcons who are on 21.
The afternoon got under way with Agricola Red Triangle easing to a 3-1 win over Timehri Panthers. Gordon Grant, who started the game as joint-leading goalscorer (10) with Domini Garnett, netted a double in leading his side to victory.
Grant scored in the 4th and 23rd minutes; Sheldon Gurrick put the icing on the cake in the 63rd minute. Timehri had pulled one back in the 20th minute through Hubert Adams and stood toe-to-toe with Agricola for the most part.
The win for the Agricola boys saw them overtake Timehri for third, easing two points clear of them. More action is set for Sunday at the same venue.