By Joe Chapman

A virtuoso last-ditch strike by Keon Hall blew open a likely stalemate to propel his side, Bakewell Topp XX, to their second successive championship win over Coomacka to silence a partisan crowd as they won $600,000 and the Jermine and Family Linden MASH Cup football championship at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

When these two teams clashed at the same venue in the recent Upper Demerara Football Association’s year-end Christmas championship, Topp XX prevailed on penalties 3-1 after a 1-1 stalemate in regulation and overtime play.

Meeting in their second straight final, Topp XX were first out to fire a shot towards the Coomacka goal in the fourth minute of play, but Coomacka then made their way down the right to see a cross by striker, Shaquille Frank, which was cleared by the Topp XX goalkeeper, Gregory Hinds, three minutes later.

Frank, who was acquired through the transfer window from Haynes and Lewis Winners Connection would torment the Topp XX defense constantly and one such would see his shot go wide and another crashing on to the cross bar as Coomacka pressured their opponents.
However, an ugly incident occurred in the 25th minute when Coomacka’s Michael Schekia was sent off after he reacted to his foul call committed against Topp XX’s Tony ‘Spirit’ Adams, by using foul language which was picked up by the referee, Sherwin Johnson.
Instantly, referee Johnson sent him packing and this created a furore that sparked a halt to the game for 15 minutes.

Just before play resumed, the vocal Coomacka crowd, incensed by the decision, hurled missiles which cause the Topp XX substitute bench to exchange positions from their western end to the eastern end with Coomacka .

In the 30th minute, there was an anxious moment from a Topp XX corner kick as the ball moved from the right side and ran free as no player was there in the goal mouth.
A free kick in the 42nd minute taken by Coomacka’s new acquisition, Marmalaque Davidson, was effectively punched away by an advancing Hinds in Topp XX goal. The first half eventually ended on a scoreless note.

Topp XX began the second half again targeting their opponents goal where Kellon ‘Clean-Sheet’ Major was the custodian, but the move inside right was a poor one three minutes into play.

Once again, the gangling Shaquille Frank released a shot but it was away to the right side of the Topp XX goal.
In the 52nd minute of play, Topp XX’s lanky forward, Tony ‘Spirit’ Adams darting down the left flank, was fouled in the box. Surprisingly, the experienced Topp XX player, Travis Waterton, took the spot kick from 10 yards out and sent it wide of its mark, much to the astonishment of those watching.

But Coomacka once again came forward as Frank harassed the Topp XX defenders and it was the good anticipation by their goalkeeper, Gregory Hinds, in the 56th minute that nullified that attempt.

Ten minutes later, the momentum changed as Topp XX challenged everything thrown at them; they were able to force Coomacka’s Kellon ‘Clean-Sheet’ Major to bring off a good save.

But in the process, Major seemed to have been injured and this brought about another stoppage, this time for nine minutes, and it appeared that Major would be substituted. But the courageous man between the uprights for Coomacka remained to the end of the game.
In the 71st minute, Topp XX were unable to put themselves into the lead after a very good chance went abegging again as the ball ran free from a nice cross in the goal-mouth area.
There were two more chances for Coomacka from close range in the 78th minute. And a Shawn ‘Dash’ Daniels shot connected to the hands of Major in goal and deflected on to the cross bar in the 87th minute as Topp XX were on the offensive.

Then came the decisive strike. From the midfield in the centre, the ball was sent by Ryan Noel across to the oncoming Keon Hall on the right wing and with a couple of dribbles, despite the ball bouncing high, he blasted a volley that zoomed past a beaten Major to score and spark celebration among Topp XX’s loyal in the 90+4th minute.

This was the sealer for the game as the final whistle was blown with Topp XX winning 1-0.
Earlier in the day, Botafago again had the better of Haynes and Lewis’ Winners Connection as they ran over their opponents. Antoine Gill got a brace in the 66th and 71st minutes of play while the others came from Jamal Haynes in the 17th, his brother Shane in the 29th and Jashawn Moore in the 69th minutes.

Botafago had also beaten the Winners Connection for third place in the recent Upper Demerara Football Association’s year-end Christmas championship 5-2.

Businessman Jermine Allicock assisted in the presentation of the various prizes at stake as well as representatives from one of the sponsors, Edward B Beharry after the final was played.