THE inaugural Stag Super XV1 knock-out football tournament climaxed on New Year’s night at the #5 Community ground, West Coast Berbice. Grove Hi Tech were led by their prolific scorer, Domini Garnett who netted all their goals, as they trounced Ann’s Grove 5-0 to lift the championship trophy and $1.5M first place cheque compliments of Ansa McAl.

In the third place encounter, another lethal goalscorer Adrian Adams and Rondel Hazel netted a brace each to lead New Amsterdam United to a 5-1 routing of Cougars to win the third place clash and prize of $300 000.

Witnessed by a sea of colourful spectators on a windy New Year’s night, fans were treated to a goal fest and while hundreds left the venue in an ecstatic mood, many others left deflated after their teams were left defeated.
Like he did against New Amsterdam United when he netted the winning hat-trick, Domini Garnett rose to the occasion yet again rattling off all five goals either side of play as Grove Hi Tech (Grove) totally annihilated their rivals from the East Coast of Demerara.
The champions started somewhat shakily as Ann’s Grove took the early fight to them on a well clipped and maintained field. Scoring during their previous encounters was a tough task for Ann’s Grove who only netted three goals in their three previous wins; two of which were won via penalty kicks, 5-3 on each occasion.
On the other hand, Grove possessed a lethal scoring machine in Garnett who ended the tournament like Adrian Adams of NA United with 9 goals. Grove had scored six times in the run-up to the championship match while conceding only two goals; so it was going to be an uphill battle for the Ann’s Grove defenders to stave off the rampant Garnett.
And so it turned out, Garnett was too hot for his opponents to handle. Sixteen minutes into the game, his (Garnett) nimble footwork saw him take the ball into the box but was brought to the ground contrary to the laws of the game which resulted in FIFA Referee Sherwin Johnson blowing his whistle while pointing to the spot.
Garnett himself stepped up to take the kick which flew past goalkeeper Narvaldo Denny who had looked good standing in for regular goalie Travis Allen, out with a fractured jaw. Even Allen’s words of encouragement to Denny from the sidelines could not change the course for Ann’s Grove.
While the score line showed dominance on the part of Grove, the East Coast side did enjoy some good moments. They had a few chances to draw level at the half way mark but could not get it together in the attacking third.
The second, which started with Grove enjoying a slim 1-0 advantage turned out to be all Grove as they grounded their opponents into submission urged on by their vociferous supporters who journeyed all the way to Berbice to lend valuable support.
It was the continuation of the Garnett, New Year’s Night show from the 66th minute when he doubled the advantage. The Ann’s Grove defence and goalkeeper were found wanting once again in the 71st minute as the advantage increased to 3-0 which put the game way beyond the reach of the East Coast side.
Five minutes later it was 4-0 and the icing was put on the cake from the penalty spot again in the 79th minute, compliments of Garnett on the second attempt. The final whistle sounded after two minutes of added-on time and this sparked wild celebrations by the Grove fans along with fireworks that light up the night sky.
Grove ended as the inaugural Stag Super XV1 knockout champions, Ann’s Grove were their third East Demerara Football Association scalp having defeated BV Triumph United (2-0), Buxton United (1-0) and NA United (3-2).
Ann’s Grove will receive $500 000 for their efforts. En route to the final, they defeated Agricola Red Triangle (1-0), Victoria Kings 5-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 regulation and extra time stalemate. The score line was similar in their semi-final clash against Cougars.
In the third place playoff, Cougars looked a shadow of themselves as they failed to display any of the previous spark showed in earlier matches. That was not the case with New Amsterdam United who nailed their opponents early in the piece.
By the 10th minute New Amsterdam were 3-0 up, many of the fans were left in awe when they heard the score line. The usual scorers for New Amsterdam were on target early, Leonardo Adams (3rd), Rondel Hazel (5th) and Adrian Adams in the 10th.
Cougars finally showed that they were a much more solid unit by pulling one back three minutes into the second half, Alvin Reynolds doing the honours. That goal brought back some confidence to the Cougars unit but the deficit was way too much for them to pull back.
They stood up much better in the half but could not keep out the NA boys for the entire half. Adrian Adams tucked in his 9th of the tournament three minutes to full time while Hazel completed his double in the second minute of added-on time to seal Cougars’ fate,
The presentation of cash and individual prizes will be done this week.