DEFENDING champions Winners Connection downed Eagles United 3-1 as Hi Stars soared past Bakewell Topp XX 2-1 on Sunday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground, and now head into New Year’s Day final of the second edition of the second annual Upper Demerara Football Association/GT Beer Supa 16 Christmas football championship.

Both sides recovered from early goals as in the first game between Eagles United and reigning champions Winners Connection. Forward Dellon Charter grabbed the lead for the Christianburg side Eagles as he scored in the 23rd minute.
However, Winners Connection were able to stay in contention and in the last five minutes of play in the first half they were rewarded.
The equaliser came in the 40th minute when a corner was taken by Rawle ‘Boney’ Gittens that sailed into the 18-yard box where the Chris Young header rocked the back of the net as the scores were levelled at 1.
Two minutes later Rawle ‘Boney’ Gittens reached a ball from the right cross by midfielder Stanford Bovell and the resultant flat header made it a 2-1 score-line for the Winners Connection who enjoyed the lead going into halftime.
Nine minutes into the second half Winners Connection secured a 3-1 advantage as Gittens facilitated their next goal with a through pass from centre field which was received by a running Renee Gibbons who then chucked it before unleashing a shot past the hapless Eagles United goalkeeper.
From there on the defending champions were in control as they maintained their advantage to the end and await the matchup against Hi Stars.
The second game began like the first one with the eventual losers scoring early when Terrence Aaron made the best use of a rebound from the Hi Stars goalkeeper as he planted a well-placed shot home for a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute, for Topp XX.
But Hi Stars, underdogs throughout this tournament were able to match that lead when the diminutive striker Julian Allicock in the 20th minute latched on to a loose ball, after the goalkeeper ‘split’ a shot by Tony ‘Spirit’ Adams, inside the six-yard box and he tucked it away for a 1-1 score.
Both sides were throwing caution to the wind but neither scored although a few clear chances did come their way. However, it was be the persistent play of Hi Stars, against the odds in the game that prevailed eventually, two minutes from full time.
Then a right-side corner by Colin Davidson eventually landed in the 18-yard box where there was a scuffle for position and the tall six-footer Stephan ‘Crouch’ Tappin was there to plant the header into the back of the net for the go-ahead goal and winner of the game in the 88th minute.
This 2-1 advantage for Hi Stars remained until the final whistle came and there was aloud celebration for the first time finalists who now face Winners Connection in the final on New Year’s Night at the MSC ground.

(By Joe Chapman)