By Joe Chapman

BOTOFAGO got their act off to a winning note with a 4-1 brushing aside of Hi Stars, while Net Rockers ended the quest of Amelia’s Ward Panthers for a berth into the next stage with a 2-2 result, as this year’s Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) 5th GT Beer Christmas football championship continued on Sunday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

The night began with Botofago facing Hi Stars who were handed a loss for their abandoned game when they were trailing with six minutes left in their game against Eagles United when a scrimmage had broken out.
That loss and now Botofago’s hammering out a 4-1 victory behind goals from Jashwan Moore, who netted early in the 11th minute and Jamal Haynes’ 31-minute strike sending them into a 2-0 half-time lead, were early warnings of how the game would end.
But two minutes after play resumed, Hi Stars found the back of the net in the 47th minute through Jason Monah. The lead was increased, however, when Botofago’s Jamal Haynes connected again in the 60th minute making it 3-1.

Then Haynes club mate Amar Jones pushed Botofago to a 4-1 lead in the 80th minute, as they shut down the hopes of Hi Stars. and now await their other group match against Eagles United to decide which club will advance to the semifinals from that group.
In the other game Ward Panthers, after losing out in their first game to Blueberry Hill, were hoping for a positive result to make it to the next round, but they were unable to get the necessary win.

In fact, Denzil Pryce first sent Net Rockers into the lead in the 31st minute but the Panthers were able to square things through a 37th minute goal by Matthew Whyte before the first half ended 1-1.
But Clarence Huggins again gave the Rockers the edge when he scored in the 52nd minute. It seemed that the Panthers were down and out but Omalli Webb was able to convert from close range after a relentless offensive play bore fruit in the 83rd minute and raised hopes of the Panthers.

However, a non-call for handle ball that went against Panthers as they were on the look-out for that winning goal in the dying moments of the game did not help the Panthers’ cause and they had to settle for a draw which eradicated any hope of reaching the next round.

On Friday, other matches are set for the tournament venue – the MSC ground – where Kwakwani Strikers meet Silver Shattas, the defending champions, and the other match pits Botofago against Eagles United in key encounters.