… Grove Hi Tech defeat Friendship for third place

THE inaugural Ralph Green-sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-11 final culminated last Saturday at the Grove Playfield. Agricola Red Triangle, led by the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and joint-Highest Goalscorer, Floyd Boyce, achieved championship honours.

Boyce netted the lone goal of the match in the 21st minute to sink the hopes of Craig Primary in a match that saw Craig taking the early attack to Agricola and enjoying majority possession.
The third-place playoff between Grove Hi Tech and Friendship All Stars saw their captain Tyrese Jones (with just one minute to full time) hit in the winning goal. He ended as the joint-Highest Goalscorer with Boyce. He performed the honours of scoring the winner from the penalty spot when the match seemed destined for extra time.
Agricola, despite giving up size advantage to the Craig team, played with the heart of a lion to sink the obviously disappointed Craig Primary lads.
Almost the entire first segment was played in the Agricola half when numerous chances went a-begging for Craig, goalkeeper Adam Wilson standing tall between the uprights.
However, as the game progressed in the second half, Boyce and his boys became more and more confident. They made many raids in the third. Agricola’s persistence finally brought the desired results when Boyce eased into the box to head home the championship goal in the 21st minute.
Craig had hammered Friendship 5-0 in their semi-final match one week earlier but could not replicate that form;. Agricola romped to a memorable victory which they will savour for some time to come. They are also the reigning Under-13 champions.
The 3rd place match was also a close affair with both Friendship and Grove playing freely. It was Shavi Atkinson, the tournament’s Most Promising Player who took on Grove for Friendship but could not get past Grove’s captain and the competition’s joint Highest Goalscorer, Tyrese Jones.
It was Jones who eventually separated the two teams from the penalty spot in the 29th and penultimate minute of regulation time after the ball was handled in the area by Friendship.
The winning trophy was presented to the youngest player of the Agricola team, 5-year-old Keziah Anthony December by EBFA president Franklin Wilson on behalf of sponsor Ralph Green, who is based in the USA.
Wilson in remarks at the presentation thanked the teams for participating stating that they are all winners.
He expressed gratitude to Ralph Green on behalf of the association for committing to sponsor the tournament on an annual basis. Special recognition was made of the lone female to participate in the competition, 10-year-old Kera Yaw of Friendship All Stars.
The top four teams were presented with medals while each player from the six participating teams was presented with Certificates of Participation.
Five individual trophies were distributed as follows:
Highest Goalscorer: (joint with 3 goals each) Tyrese Jones – Grove Hi Tech and Floyd Boyce – Agricola Red Triangle.
Most Valuable Player: Floyd Boyce – Agricola Red triangle
Best Goalkeeper: Adam Wilson – Agricola Red Triangle
Most Promising Player: Shavi Atkinson – Friendship All Stars
Most Improved Player: Joshua Moore – Craig Primary School