… Net Rockers nip Winners Connection 1-0, Eagles United boot out champions Botofago

By Joe Chapman

TOP-ranked clubs Eagles United and Net Rockers scored riveting wins in their semifinals of this year’s Upper Demerara Football Association’s GT Beer year-end football championship on Friday night.

Their clash in the final on New Year’s Day will be a fitting finale to a year in which they have played unbeaten in the Senior League football competition.
The first game featured second seed Net Rockers, who, by the slimmest goal difference margin, were surpassed, as Eagles United got the number one ranking and will face Winners Connection for a place in the final.

That game was a tough one for both teams trying to dominate each other but failing to really get their momentum going.
The Rockers opened their foray as early as the third minute with a cross but their finishing was poor, as the ball went wide of the mark, then Winners goalkeeper Shaquille France was able to intercept two other such attempts.

But Winners Connection got into the match when in the 11th minute after a run down the right wing their chance went wide of the goal.

Five minutes later, Winners had a nice buildup down the right flank but the cross eluded two of their front men in the goalmouth while a third connected but the ball went wide.
In the 17th minute Rockers forced France to come off his line to snatch the ball. Two minutes later France was forced to parry a shot then a header by Winners went just over Rockers goal crossbar.

Shane Luckie’s shot went over the crossbar, as the Rockers continued their search and Winners were able to get a nice cross but it was held in the goalmouth by the Rockers goalkeeper Compton Burnett in the 41st minute.

Then to end the first half Rockers goalkeeper was called upon to effect another save.
After that first half of trying by both teams the Rockers goalkeeper held a shot from outside the 18-yard box in the 49th minute.

A chance opened up close to the18-yard box but Winners failed to find the back of the net. The Rockers defence stood up to another offensive move by Winners Connection in the 57th minute, as bad technique was on display. The player shot over the crossbar in the 67th minute.

But the Rockers fought back but their play down the left wing saw France bring off a nice save. Then two consecutive plays from the Winners brought them nothing as the chances were squandered towards the end of regulation play.

However, the Rockers squeezed in the lone goal of the night in the 16th minute of extra time. Striker Denzil Fordyce delivered that decisive lead, feigning a ball that bounced off the opposing goalkeeper Darius Frank to his left, backing goal then switching to his right to unleash a crisp left-footer around the six-yard box to make it a 1-0.

The second game was far more entertaining between Eagles United and Botofago, whoo started with a first shot to goal when in the ninth minute a free kick on the right was diverted by Eagles goalkeeper.

By this time it seemed that Botofago were getting the better of the exchanges and player Jamal Haynes then caused the Eagles goalkeeper Yannick Simon to punch sway a shot into goal in the 13th minute.

Both teams were aggressive but the Eagles scored from a free kick outside the 18-yard box by Omar Brewley that rushed through but Botofago goalkeeper misjudged the force.
In the 22nd minute Botofago by then looked the better side as their players were running at the aggressive Eagles side who fielded the more experienced players.
Then goalkeeper Simon thwarted another offensive play by Botofago coming off his line in the 40th minute. Another shot to goal was again taken by Simon as the first half ended 1-0.

Two more chances were offered the Botofago side, as they looked organised but did not score. Then in the 67th minute Botofago saw their best chance come and go, the ball from the left side was played goal-wards but it was headed over the crossbar.
Eagles were up to the task of defending their 1-0 advantage, but in their quest to remain on top they fouled and gave Botofago a chance from outside on the right.
The free kick shot, taken by Donavon Francis, was perfectly taken and went to the far corner beating Simon all ends up.

That 1-1 score remained but before that second session ended a free kick was headed over the Eagles crossbar
In extra time play Eagles sent a nice cross that crashed into the crossbar and on the other side in transition play Botofago also saw their chance bounce off the crossbar. However, Eagles went ahead 2-1.

Botofago then gained a corner and Eagles defended the ball aimed at goal then Frank was able to do likewise for his team. However Botofago gained a free kick, from a reckless tackle by Eagles right back. Jashwan Moore’s kick shot scored for a 2-2 tally in the 118th minute and the game then went into penalty kicks.

Both sides scored the five mandatory penalty kicks but in sudden-kick death Eagles scored their first attempt and Botofago missed their penalty kick, thus allowing the Eagles side to prevail 6-5 and advance into the final.