AS the KFC Elite League winds down, serial winners and defending champions, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) had their first real scare as an inconsistent Fruta Conquerors side found form to almost blemish the soldiers’ flawless record.

The army men, who are narrowly trailing Slingerz FC at the top of the points table, are looking to reclaim their title, and had to dig deep on a night where their front line missed much of their penetrative powers in a nervy come-from-behind 3-2 victory.

Dwayne Jones and Shomar Koulen scored back-to-back goals in the 23rd and 24th minutes to put Fruta in the lead, and on a high after a fabulous period of play for the Tucville-based team.

GDF quickly made some adjustments to up the ante and salvage their perfect record, with Chris Macy and Stephen McDonald, in the 39th and 41st minutes, bringing the scores level by the half.

After the resumption, a rejuvenated Fruta side looked to push for the victory, but GDF regrouped to show their superiority in defence to hold off the Conquerors side.

However, a late press in the contest from GDF proved costly for Conquerors, as it forced a mistake, with Patrick Paul inadvertently tapping the ball into his own net in the 83rd minute to give GDF the go-ahead goal for the victory, 3-2.

The night’s opener saw Western Tigers, led by Michael Oie and Randolph Wagner plundering Buxton United to emerge with an 8-1 victory.
Wagner and Oie had strikes in the 15th and 17th minutes to quickly get onto the score sheet, after which Lennox Odean gave Buxton their lone goal of the encounters in the 19th minute to pull back the score line, 2-1.
Samuel Garnett came to the fore in the 38th to restore the cushion with his goal as they went into the half-time break, up 3-1.
The second half proved a one-sided affair, as Wagner and Oie combined to record five more goals in an awesome display for the West Ruimveldt side’s attack.
Wagner scored again in the 62nd and 69th minute to finish with a hat-trick, while Oie added to his tally in the 68th, 79th and 81st as he captured a helmet trick after finishing with four goals.
The league has two more playing days, with the winner still to be decided.
The top three sides Slingerz, GDF and Police all have two more games to play to determine who will walk away with the $2 million purse.
This Saturday, GDF meets Santos, and Police clash with Slingerz FC, while on August 24, Den Amstel will take on Police, with the final clash featuring GDF meeting Slingerz, with the KFC Elite league Title on the line.