By Ras Wadada

THERE was an explosion of goals in the nationwide NAMILCO U-17 football tournament which continued over the weekend at a number of venues across the country.At the Tucville ground where matches were played on Saturday, the most impressive of the eight teams in the Georgetown FA’s zone, East Ville, gave another commanding display in demolishing Pele FC 9-0 for their second win in as many outings. Shemar Babb spearheaded the demolition with a treble (6’, 27’ and 44’), the first for the competition. Also on target with a pair each were, Calvin Peters (8’ and 62’) and Teon Van Keric (63’ and 69’), while Isaiah Nero netted in the 35th minute and there was an own -goal in the 12th minute.
Home side Fruta Conquerors also produced another comfortable win in easing past Santos 3-0, thanks to strikes by Joel Yhap (21’), Nicholas McArthur (24’) and Malachai Adonis one minute from full time (70’). Alpha United are now 2-0 as well after blanking Order and Discipline by the same scoreline, compliments of Julian Bamfield (24’), Daniel Augustus (38’) and Cleon Robertson (69’).
The final game of the day resulted in the first taste of victory for GFC who had the better of Camptown FC 2-0. Kellon Blue (20’) and Wilson De Santos (38’) ensured that Camptown lost for the second time. Along with Pele and Order and Discipline, they are all goal-less and point-less while East Ville, Conquerors and Alpha remain the unbeaten teams. Santos and GFC are 1-1.
In the Berbice FA’s leg where 10 teams are competing, there were convincing victories on Saturday for Cougars FC over Canefield Diamond Strikers by 7-4 in New Amsterdam, while at Mahaicony, the home team were humbled 4-0 by Paradise Invaders.
In yesterday’s match at Mahaicony, a double by Isaiah James (22’ and 45’) piloted Rosignol United to a 2-1 win over Hopetown United, whose consolation goal was netted by Telston Miller in the 40th minute. Results of the other two games played yesterday at Burnham Park in NA were not available up to press time.
On the East Coast of Demerara where the FA staged matches at the BV ground, on Saturday, Mahaica brushed aside Plaisance 6-0 with a double apiece for Nigel Mansfield (12’ and 14’) and Gary Jardine (18’ and 29’), while there was one each for Julius Hamilton (15’) and Orland Adams (59’). In the other encounter, it was a Stephon Raymond brace (31’ and 47’) that propelled Golden Stars to victory over Adventure/Paradise.
There were two close games yesterday at the said venue that ended in wins for Victoria Kings against Buxton Stars 2-1 and home team, BV United had to come from behind to snatch a 3-2 victory over Ann’s Grove. A double by Kareem Josiah (2’ and 28’) inspired Kings, while Shemar Scott scored the lone goal for Buxton in the 33rd minute.
Temar Robinson gave BV the lead in the 10th minute and that lasted until Randy Hamilton equalized in the 54th minute and 11 minutes later, Shemar Brandon gave Ann’s Grove the lead. Dequan France would then level the score again when he netted on the stroke of full time and two minutes into injury time, Omari Glasgow delivered the winner for the BV boys.