Grove Hi Tech edge Herstelling Raiders to take first place; Agricola end third

Grove Hi Tech further underlined their billing as the best club on the East Bank when they won the CULT sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-17 League yesterday edging Herstelling Raiders 2-1 in the final at the Grove Playfield.

Goals from Denzil Crawford in the 33rd minute and Kirk Cummings two minutes later handed Grove the lead in an exciting encounter between the two sides. Not to be outdone, Herstelling Raiders, led by the inspirational Seon Alfred who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player hit back in the 38th minute from the penalty spot.

Alfred’s goal not only put pressure on the home team but also placed him level with Joel Dick as the competition’s top marksmen with 12 goals apiece.

Grove’s goalkeeper Lloyd Matthews and Coach Levi Braithwaite were named Best Goalkeeper and Best Coach respectively.

In the third place match, Agricola Red Triangle led by a hat-trick from Dakhawn Matthews turned back the challenge of Kuru Kururu Warriors 3-1. It was the Warriors who drew first blood just two minutes on, compliments of a Kevon Walker goal.

The Soesdyke /Linden Highway based lads held on to that lead for quite some time as they kept Agricola at bay. But constant pressure saw them cracking and that’s when Agricola drove home the advantage.
Matthews hit the network in the 53rd, 66th and 68th minute to wrest the game from the Warriors to seal the third place on their return to competitive youth football.

Continental Group of Companies Sales Manager Khemraj Dhanraj and Marketing Assistant Indar Jaigobin were on hand to witness yesterday’s proceedings and expressed their companies’ delight in being a part of the game on the East Bank.

Dhanraj said that he was impressed with the pool of talent in the association, while complimenting the players and coaches for making the sacrifice to come out every week to compete.

He pledged continued support for the game on the East Bank. EBFA President Wayne Francois expressed gratitude to the sponsors for their commitment to youth development noting that two of the players from the competition represented Guyana’s Under-17 team in the CFU qualifying competition.

Clubs were told to start preparations for the soon to start EBFA Under-13 competition.