Georgetown, Linden to clash in New Year’s finale

THE final stage has been set for the Bounce Back Football Tournament with Linden and Georgetown All Stars pitted against each other in the race for top honours.
On Tuesday evening, Linden were the first team to book their ticket to the final with a comfortable 4-2 win over East Coast at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
In the match that followed, Georgetown fended off a raging West Coast side to win 3-2 and become the other finalists. In the feature match, Georgetown’s combined speed caught West Demerara slipping in the opening moments and they paid dearly.

Missing their opportunity to quickly switch from offence to defence, they conceded the first goal in the 2nd minute when Roy McArthur headed in a fantastic cross from the left flank.
Immediately after, West Demerara became a focussed side that rivalled Georgetown for the entire match.
West Demerara were then gifted with a penalty and a chance to level the scores but Trayon Bobb’s attempt was thwarted by the goal keeper.
Shortly after, Georgetown had a penalty in their favour that was taken by Ryan Hackett, but his attempt was denied too.
Hackett’s shot was stopped by goalkeeper Ryan Hunte, but in his attempt to gather it was injured in the squabble. Hunte was immediately rushed to the hospital.
However, these two well prepared sides had well trained replacements.

In the 23rd minute Sheldon Holder picked up the equaliser which set the scores at 1 by the halftime whistle.
When play resumed, it was the West Demerara side that gained the upper hand compliments of Bobb who scored in the 53rd minute.
Controlling the Georgetown attack, McArthur had the opportunity to complete his brace and successfully brought the scores back in the balance in the 64th minute.
With the scores level and either side looking for the game changer, the opportunity came in the form of a set piece play.
As time ran out, the free kick which was set just at the top of the 18-yard box on the left wing was buried close to first post with a excellent attempt by Daniel Wilson in the 81st minute, to give Georgetown the lead once again, and inevitably the eventual victory.
On New Year’s evening the curtain will come down on the tournament with the finale scheduled to commence at 18.00hrs. That match will be broadcast live on NCN Television, E-Networks and the Ministry of Culture,, Youth and Sport’s Facebook platform.