By Joe Chapman

NATIONAL forward Delon Lanferman played his heart out to deliver the dagger shot 50 minutes into the 2017 Stag Bowl Final that would give his team Silvertown/ Valleys /Alleys a 1-0 victory over Wisroc/Block 22 –renamed Rock22–and the title of CBR HotShots Entertainment Inter Ward champions which was played at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground on Wednesday.
The Linden Town Week football event saw the winners landing a first prize of $1.2M, of which $200,000 is for a community based project, while Lanferman, for being the Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer of the tournament,earned himself an additional $60,000.
Playing in front of a fair-sized crowd,five minutes into the first half the Wisroc/Block 22,who converted their name to Rock 22,saw their goalkeeper National Prospect Jonathan Copeland being brought into action early with a good clearance and then a fine hold as Silvertown/Alleys /Valleys applied early pressure.
Ten minutes into the opening period Lanferman again tested Copeland and the 16-year-old junior national brought off a neat save. Seemingly in control, another close shave was seen when ball would run free outside the goal after no one was able to finish on a build up inside left.
However, there was a good chance for Rock 22 being able to pressure Silvertown/ Valley/ Alleys but a defender was there to redirect the corner away from the citadel.
This was followed with a volley which was blocked by defender Benny Neblett on the line and as the tension mounted,the Silvertown/ Valley/ Alleys goalkeeper Kellon Major was again brilliant in bringing off two more saves as the first half ended.
One minute after play resumed the Rock 22 side missed a chance to go ahead, but soon after Silvertown/ Valleys/ Alleys would with the lithe looking Lanferman breaking out from just inside left into the Rock 22 half,eluding his marker and darted inside right to shake past one defender.
Then in one fluent motion as another was approaching Lanferman slammed a flat shot,beating the startled Copeland to his right as the ball pierced through past the right upright to score in the 50th minute.
But it was not smooth sailing for Silvertown/ Valley /Alley’s custodian Kellon Major, who was forced to bring off another good save and punch out one on the trot from close range five minutes later.
In the 55th minute Rock 22 came through with a nice buildup as the hard working Trayon Babb was tormenting the right wing back for Silvertown/Valleys/ Alleys,but his crosses were not getting the kind of finishing expected.
In the 58th minute a shot by the Silvertown Valley Alleys went over the cross bar and Rock 22 countered as Babb on the right wing would feed Mark McClean in the ensuing play, but again nothing was registered.
As the intensity rose,the Silvertown /Valley/ Alleys had to stave off the forays by the Rock 22 team. Major first brought off another save and after another try collided on to the crossbar, on its way out another Rock 22 player connected and Major again was able to make a save.
Towards the end of the game,Major would remain the difference between the Rock 22 boys getting a goal and he stood outstanding to ensure his side came away eventually with a nail-biting 1-0 win.
The lion’s share of the top prizes were taken by the Silvertown /Valley/ Alleys as, apart from Langeferman with the two top awards, teammates Konata Manning copped the Best Midfielder,and Solomon Austin the Best Defender award, while Major copped the Best Goalkeeper award and Rock 22’s Manager Akani Blair copped the Humanitarian Award.
President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde;Mayor of Linden,Carwyn Holland,and promoter and former national player Rickland ‘Tallo’ Hutson,along with a representative from main sponsors Ansa McAl Trading among others, presented the various trophies, replicas and medals for the winners that evening.