DEFENDING champions Grove Hi Tech continue to roll over all opposition with a solid 12-1 whipping of Mocha Champs to book their place in the final of the SUNBURST/East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-17 competition.Playing at home last Saturday, Grove were again in a no-nonsense mood as they took their tally of goals in the tournament to 30 from the previous 18.
They have booked a date with Soesdyke Falcons who took down Herstelling Raiders in an epic battle, 4-3 in extra time.
The star for the Timehri-based side that are getting better with every game was Tyrel Khan, who first netted the equalising goal after they found themselves trailing, before he found the winning goal in the second period of extra time to send his side into the final. They will face Grove for the second time in the tournament.
Grove, having won all of the association’s junior tournaments last year, are yet to win any this year and are focused on making it right in the third tournament for 2015 having given up the Pee Wee Under-11 to Herstelling and the Under-13 to Agricola.
However, the Under-17s are not in a mood to let this one go just yet, but will have to overcome the ever-improving Soesdyke Falcons in Saturday’s championship match.
Rocking the nets for Grove were Alwyn Haynes who scored a hat-trick (25th, 48th & 64th); Nicholai Matthews (22nd & 40th), Gregory Stephens (55th & 62nd), Goalkeeper Randy Smartt (17th), Threvon Pluck (36th), Tevin Millington (38th) and Denzil Crawford in the 44th minute.
The first semifinal produced a fierce battle between Soesdyke and Herstelling with the latter easing into the lead from the penalty spot in the 5th minute and Daniel Nedd with a brace in the game, handing his side the initial advantage.
That lead lasted some time but it was eventually nullified when Tyrel Khan, who also scored a double, drew Soesdyke level in the 31st minute. Khan’s brother, Tyrone, put Soesdyke ahead in the penultimate minute before halftime (34th) from the penalty spot; a match as well and truly on.
Herstelling, even with National Under-17 custodian Quazim Yussuf between the uprights, could not keep the Soesdyke boys at bay. It was Herstelling who equalised in the 48th minute, Nedd achieving his second of the match.
Herstelling even regained the lead following a good period of play to go ahead 3-2, when Seon Alfred breached the Soesdyke defence and goalkeeper Dyonta Grant-Stuart in the 51st minute.
But even as Herstelling went ahead with the minutes winding down, Soesdyke never let up their offensive ambitions and were rewarded with the equalising goal to tie the game at 3 in the 52nd minute thanks to a well-placed shot by Tavin Marshall.
The remaining eight minutes of regulation time could not separate the sides and based on the rules, 30 additional minutes in the form of extra time in two equal halves of 15 minutes each had to decide a winner.
It was in the first period of extra time that Soesdyke sealed the deal; Tyrel Khan was the hero for his side when he blasted his shot past Yussuf in the 83rd minute. Soesdyke were able to defend that advantage for the remaining 17 minutes to secure their date with Grove in Saturday’s final.