SLINGERZ Football Club and Monedderlust were the latest teams to record wins in the STAG Elite League, when the action headed back to the #5 Ground, West Coast Berbice on Saturday night.Playing in the opening game of the double-header, Slingerz FC defeated Buxton United 2-0 while the home side Monedderlust came from behind to knock off the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) 2-1.
Watched by a huge crowd, Monedderlust found themselves down just nine minutes into the heated contest when Mikhail Stewart gave GFC the lead.
However, coach Gordon Braithwaite’s men held their composure, regrouped and took the fight to GFC.
The city side fell back into a more defensive still of play since Monedderlust applied the pressure in their hunt for an equaliser.
Coming close on several occasions, Travis Henry’s shot from approximately 25-yards out from goal was hit too hard for GFC’s Derrick Carter to put a hand on.
Henry’s goal, a classic strike, sent the football fans into frenzy and it also changed the momentum of the game.
It was all Monedderlust and the Berbice club’s relentless attack paid off again this time, with diminutive forward Kevin Cottoy scoring in the 44th minute to extend his club’s lead 2-1.
In the second half, nothing much changed, except for GFC getting a little aggressive but that didn’t translate into more goal-scoring opportunities.
The result meant that Monedderlust rebounded from their three-game losing streak to pick up their second win in the STAG Elite League while GFC registered their third loss.
Meanwhile, the Slingerz/Buxton United clash was a lopsided affair with the Vergenoegen-based club being too strong for the young East Coast Demerara side.
Dominican international striker Julian Wade made his debut in the STAG Elite League for Slingerz FC and made his presence felt when he netted the first goal of the game.
Having missed several clear chances, Wade timed his run to perfection as he collected a pass and used his head to push the ball between two defenders before going one-on-one with the Buxton United keeper then used his experience to nicely glide the ball around him for the goal.
The 25-year-old, who played last season with the club before leaving for a try-out in England, was by far the most sought-after by the Buxton United defenders after his goal which came in the 21st minute.
Domini Garnett, the former Grove Hi-Tech and Morvant Caledonia United striker doubled his team’s lead when Vurlon Mills worked his magic in the midfield then slipped the ball through. The forward controlled nicely to net his second of the league.
Slingerz could have ended the game with at least 10 goals if their forwards, especially substitute Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, had converted half of their chances.
Buxton were at a disadvantage throughout the game, because of Slingerz FC’s superior defence.