By Joe Chapman

HAYNES and Lewis Winners Connection proved superior from the penalty spot with a 4-2 score, thus ending the year-long unbeaten reign of Upper Demerara champions Eagles United, to capture the inaugural Linden Town Week Mayor’s Cup football championship at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground on Tuesday night.

In front of a large crowd the battle for the $400 000 first prize was on, The game ended in a 1-1 stalemate after regulation period and even the extra period failed to decide the winner.

It was left to striker-turned-goalkeeper Shaquille Frank to do the honours and be the hero. He brought off two stunning saves to go with his goal which saved the match for Winners Connection.

That tactical decision by the Winners Connection to remove Nicholas Gentle for the second straight game bore fruit and it was Frank who delivered once again with his brilliant saving.
The Eagles United took the lead through Quasi Quintin in the 35th minute after goalkeeper Nicholas Gentle failed to collect a drive safely. His fumble allowed the alert Quintin to nudge Eagles into the lead. The Linden champions maintained their attacking mode and were leading 1-0 at halftime.

However, Winners Connection took the game to their opponents and their captain Marmalque Davidson was solid in his forays with Frank. But it was the lanky Frank who found the back of the net in the 53rd minute to tie things up for a 1-1 score as the crowd on hand got into the game.

Eagles United looked dangerous as they maintained their positive mode of attack but this was countered by a marauding Winners Connection, who looked pretty sound in their response with attacking plays. This game was about two sides showing great courage and it saw the first regulation play period knotted 1-1.

Play continued to decide a winner but this did not materialise in the 15 minutes ordered by referee Stanley Lancaster.

It went down to penalty kicks and Frank, who was on the front line, switched to go instead between the uprights, where he saved the first attempt by Eagles United after Winners had hit in their first penalty of the mandatory five.

Then both teams scored, before Eagles United goalkeeper watched a shot by the Winners side go high and over the cross bar and it was 2-2 after three kicks.

But Winners scored on the fourth kick and Frank again chose the right side to thwart the kick by the Eagles player. The fifth by Winners placed the game beyond their opponents and claimed victory 4-2. The last kick by Eagles was not necessary.

In the third-place playoff game the Net Rockers romped past Capital FC 2-1 behind goals by Royston Fraser in 28th minute and Joel Isaacs in the 70th minute while for Capital FC the lone goal was scored by Tyric McAllister in the 39th minute..

In the supporting first game of the night the National Under-17 shrugged off the Linden Under-20 Selection 2-0.
The presentation of the prizes for the Mayor’s Cup will take place at a later date.