NET Rockers squeezed through by a 4-2 penalty shoot-out while Amelia’s Ward Panthers mauled Botofago 4-0 to reach the quarterfinals of this year’s Upper Demerara/GT Beer knock-out football championship being played at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.As the crowds continue to follow the annual year-ender football championship on Sunday evening with a soggy surface in the first game it was a 1-1 stalemate at the end of regulation and extra periods of play.
The Net Rockers had taken the lead in the 21st minute of play through Colrick Beckles who, moving from the outside left, found his way into the 16-yard box where he slapped home the go-ahead goal for his side.
They enjoyed this advantage up to halftime and remained in the lead until the 55th minute when Hi Stars through Jermaine Adams, who collected a long ball and cut through his markers to send a goal-scoring shot from inside the 18-yard box.
With the scores level 1-1, the two sides tried desperately to gain the initiative which never came. The end of regulation and extra time however did not produce a result until the two sides went for penalty kicks and the Rockers came through by a 4-2 score.
In the second game the Panthers of Amelia’s Ward were dominant after first taking the lead in the 31st minute from the penalty spot after John Handel was brought down in the ‘box’ and the left outside defender Kevin Plowell stepped up and took the spot kick and scored, Panthers 1, Botofago 0.
Two minutes later the Panthers wemt 2-0 up through Ray Bobb-Semple who received a through ball from Jevon Babb and completed the formality by scoring.
Then in the 74th minute Marlon Simon scored with a surprise shot from about 25 yards out that sailed to the left side corner for a 3-0 advantage. Then the game was sealed through Jevon Babb who planted a superb header that came from the left side cross from Ray Bobb-Semple.
The Amelia’s Ward Panthers will now play the defending champions Winners Connection in the first game on Sunday at 18:15hrs with the second between Milerock and Net Rockers at 20:15hrs.

By Joe Chapman