… Alpha United and GDF play to 1-1 draw

GREGORY ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson broke the hearts of Fruta Conquerors players and their supporters when he stroked home his team’s winning goal in the 67th minute and helped Pele FC to the top of the table with their 2-1 win at the Tucville ground, as action in the STAG Elite League continued on Friday night.In the opening game of the double-header, Alpha United and their nemesis the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) drew 1-1 in a game that could have gone either way but in the end, both sides left the pitch securing one point.

Meanwhile, the huge crowd at the venue, most of whom were supporters of the home side (Fruta Conquerors) were kept entertained throughout the 90 minutes, primarily by one man; Richardson.
Especially in the first half, it was the ‘Jackie Chan Show’ with the Pele FC forward dazzling the partisan crowd with plays that only reminded them why he is considered one of the country’s best up front.
While Fruta Conquerors had two clear chances in the opening minutes of the game, the half belonged to Pele FC.
Richardson was a nightmare for the Fruta Conquerors defenders. Defender Dellon Williams was his primary target and after having a few of his shots going on target but hitting off the post, Richardson in the 18th minute was responsible for Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant sending Pele FC in the lead.
The svelte built player had made his way into the Fruta Conquerors’ 18-yard area and nicely flicked the ball over the advancing keeper but the ball hit the crossbar and Grant on the rebound hammered it home for Pele’s first goal of the game.
Up one goal, Richardson again got around the defenders, more so Williams, who was forced to pick up what was a necessary yellow card after the Pele forward turned sweetly on him and was heading to the goal.
Taking the free kick himself, Richardson’s shot slammed off the post (again) and Pele FC headed into the second half leading 1-0.
In the second stanza, it was an entirely different story. Eon Alleyne, Dennis Edwards and Jermin Junor led an energised Fruta Conquerors team that pulled out all the stops searching for an equaliser.
Though Richardson continued to have his way, the defence was a little better with coach Calvin Allen bringing in 15-year-old Jeremy Garrett to play in the ‘right back’ position.
Fruta Conquerors got the equaliser when Edwards headed home a classic after Alleyne worked his way down the right flank around two Pele defenders and sent a ball into the path of Edwards who timed it perfectly to head home the SM Jaleel-sponsored club’s first and only goal of the game.
However, ten minutes later, Richardson pulled one back for Pele and it turned out to be the game winner. Fruta Conquerors had just made another run on goal and Grant cleared the ball and fortunately, Richardson was the player in whose path it (the ball) landed.
Two Fruta Conquerors defenders tried to box Richardson in, but he timed the ball to perfection and his first touch was brilliant enough to glide around them and he then hammered the ball that sailed past the Fruta Conquerors custodian who had no chance of stopping it.
The goal was his (Richardson) fifth and he also extended his reign as the league’s leading goalscorer. Pele leapt above Alpha United as the top team in the league with 11 points.
Alpha United’s Kithson Bain had given his team the lead nine minutes into the game but just on the close of the first half, Seon Prince scored from the penalty spot in the 44th minute to even the scores.
The STAG Elite League continued last night at the #5 ground in Berbice.