Gittens’ last-gasp effort lands Winners Connection record hat-trick of wins
By Joe Chapman
THE reliable and durable forward Rawle “Boney” Gittens showed his class with a stunning right-footer that soared past the defenders as the Winners Connection retained the year-end GT Beer title with a 1-0 pip of Silver Shattas in the final of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) championship, as the fans flooded the gates to see a full house in attendance at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground on New Year’s night.This game would enter the record books because the eventual result could not be repeated and the Winners Connection remains unbeaten in the championship for a third successive year.
Gittens, in tandem with Marmalaque Davidson, had taken the battle to their opponents and at times it was the skill of Ray Fraser, the left- back defence who overlapped constantly to push his side forward, which allowed the forward thrusts by the Shattas strikers Rawlston Fraser and Colwyn David chances to keep their hopes alive in this game.
The game was a hugely competitive one with the teams displaying skill and power, and the crowd was in it early after the Winners Connection seemed like taking the upper hand.
But the Shattas, coming into this game with an outside chance, did themselves proud and their loyal supporters were satisfied with their brilliant display at times.
After the Winners Connection seemingly looked the better side early on, the initiative would also swing periodically for the Shattas as they were not to be outdone in this huge final
Urged on by their supporters, they did not give the Winners Connection any free pass, but for some odd times when their defence lapsed; but at one stage Davidson and Gittens failed to make the best of such chances.
At the same time, Winners Connection did have their moments of anxiety after Fraser and Drakes would make inroads, but lost control or shot wide of the mark.
When the first half ended, the scores were nil all but the game was far from over. The struggle to get the opening goal of this final continued in the second period and despite frequent forays by both sides, neither would find the back of the net for many different reasons.
At times it seemed that they were running tirelessly, but being unable to break through in front of another great turn-out wanting to relish the final’s winner.
The game was heading for an exciting draw, but for the ever-present and probing Gittens in the middle of the 18-yard box, where he collected a ball from the right outside and with two other team-mates, headed to goal. Gittens flashed a rasping right-foot shot that rocketed into the back of the net, as the Winners Connection took the decisive lead two minutes from the end and held on to come away with their third straight title, having never lost since this tournament came into being three years ago.
In the third-place supporting game, it took second half strikes from Oswald Benjamin in the 50th and Collie Hercules in the 69th to earn Topp XX the win as they beat Net Rockers 2-0
Presentation of the various prizes will be done next week. However, Jeoffrey Clement, the GT Beer Manager with Banks DIH and the Linden Branch Manager Ms. Shondel Easton were on hand to present the cheque and championship trophy to the winners in the presence of Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters.
