By Elroy Stephney

THE Essequibo Coast and Pomeroon Football Association (ECPFA)-sponsored Under-15 football competition continued at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground last Saturday with a double-header.

In the first encounter, Charity FC hammered Devonshire Castle FC 7-1 to register a convincing win and open their account in the point-standings. Strikers Ravi Welcome and Roydon Damon of Charity combined to completely decimate their opponents with dazzling skills and swift foot movements.

As early as in the 8th minute Welcome created a chance and scored. His teammate Damon then got into the act and blasted one past the goalkeeper in the 29th minute to provide the early momentum to his side.
It was, however, Welcome again on the score-sheet when he smartly tucked one into the net in the 37th minute to carry his side to 3-0 at halftime.

When the 70-minute game resumed, Charity FC continued to press home the advantage with a combination of precise passing and good ball control.
They were rewarded with another goal when Damon found the back of the net in the 42nd minute to register his second goal. Devonshire Castle FC then found some rhythm and created a brilliant opportunity for Marvin Persaud to trouble the net and score in the 55th minute.

From thereon, however, it was Charity’s Ravi Welcome who stole the spotlight with impressive goals in the 60th, 66th and 72nd minutes to dominate proceedings with 5 goals and a margin of 7-1 in favour of Charity FC.
In the second encounter, Good Hope FC upset Henrietta FC 2-1 in another exciting match which was witnessed by a fair-size crowd.

Both teams got off swiftly trading shots and exhibiting admirable ball possession. It was Good Hope FC, however, who proved accurate first, as they stunned the hosts as early as the 6th minute when Kyle Bascome powered the ball past the keeper just outside the 18-yard box.

It was the only success in the first half as the teams continued to trade shots, some of which had the keepers from both sides busy preventing the ball from entering the net.
The game continued at a fast pace in the second half and it was the hosts who struck back in the 45th minute to score from a free kick. The talented Denzel Haynes took the shot from about 22 yards and with power and precision hammered the ball past the diving goalkeeper and much to the delight of the home fans.

Both teams then played it safe, with defensive play until the dying stages when striker Kyle Bascome sealed it with another spectacular goal in the 72nd minute for his second goal to give his team a hard-fought victory 2-1.
Both matches were refereed by Olwyn Stewart who displayed sound awareness and knowledge of the rules which he applied admirably.

The competition will continue next weekend as more teams are expected to participate, including Mainstay, Dartmouth and Queenstown FC.