THE Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) GT Beer Football tournament has reached its semifinals stage and will be contested tomorrow at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden.
After four enthralling quarterfinals, Netrockers will now play Silver Shattas and defending champions Winners Connection are set to tackle Topp XX. Silver Shattas edged Kwakwani Strikers (4-3) on penalty after a goalless regulation and extra time, while Topp XX made light work of Trainline, winning 3-0 in Saturday’s quarterfinals.

When action continued on Sunday at the MSC ground, Netrockers hammered pre-tournament favourites Milerock 5-1 and Winners Connection needled (1-0) Amelia’s Ward Panthers to setup a mouthwatering semi-final stage.
Playing in the opening game of the double- header Netrockers, led by a double from defender Deshawn Joseph, secured an emphatic victory as they showed their 1-0 win over Milerock in the UDFA First Division League was no fluke.
Joseph got his first of a brace in the 32nd minute when he scored from the penalty spot, after Netrockers were rewarded when one of their players was brought down in the 18-yard box.
Despite being down a goal at the end of the first half, the Bryan Joseph-coached Milerock Football Club; considered one of the best in Linden, still seemed the more composed of the two sides.
However, after the second half began and under pressure early, Milerock, usually organised in their play were soon down 2-0 when Joseph again benefited from lax defending.
This time another penalty went against them (Milerock) as a cross by former school football standout Shane Luckie was handled in the ‘box’ and Joseph stepped up to register another goal for his team – his second in the 53rd minute.
Four minutes later, as the game continued to tilt in Netrockers’ favour Luckie squared a ball in the six-yard box to forward Denzil Pryce who slotted home Netrockers’ third goal and put the scores 3-0.
The continued presence of Luckie seemed to be influential in Netrockers keeping their momentum going and this time Luckie’s 65th minute free kick from just outside the 18-yard box was placed well enough to put his side up 4-0.
Orande Wills then made the best use of a cross from Joseph which allowed him to put Netrockers up 5-0 and Milerock were able to pull one back through Ron Fiedtkou’s strike in the 86th minute.
It was a jaw-dropping performance by Netrockers and one which was well received by the unbiased crowd at the MSC ground.
Meanwhile, in the second match of the night between the defending champions and Amelia’s Ward Panthers, it took a single strike to send Winners Connection through to the next round and a chance to lift another trophy.
Keon Sears was the night’s hero, scoring the lone goal of the game, connecting his gifted right-footed volley from a ball that came in from a corner.

By Joe Chapman