On the verge of being bounced out of the quarter-finals, Timehri, who lost their opening match to Kaneville, trounced Friendship to end as the winner of Group D and seal their spot in the quarter-finals of the inaugural Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s East Bank Inter-Village Football Tournament, organised by Sports Extra.
Playing at the Eccles EE Ground, the win for Timehri, crafted by a double from Nyron Barrow saw goal difference deciding which two teams from the group advanced.
Going into the game, Timehri were bottom of the group and without a point but that changed for the better by the end of fulltime. It was total disappointment for Friendship who did not bring their A game to the pitch like they did against Kaneville.
For that, they were punished twice by young Barrow who netted on either side of play, in the 23rd and 48th minutes. Friendship could not even penetrate the Timehri defenders as a single goal would have resulted in different fortunes for them.
The final game of the group stage in the 12-team tournament, saw Grove continuing their dominance as they notched their second win in as many matches, easing past Upper Soesdyke, 2-0.
Their captain, former national forward Domini Garnett was again on target for his team scoring the opening goal in the 20th minute, his fourth of the tournament to follow up his hat-trick against Circuitville in their 7-2 rout.
Garnett has taken back the lead as the tournament’s leading goal scorer with four, one more than Swan’s Abraham Webb.
Grove’s other goal was netted by Kevin Padmore Jr. in the 22nd minute, his second goal of the tournament. The eight villages through to the knockout round, which will commence this weekend, are Kuru Kururu and Agricola who finished as the number one and two from Group A.
Swan and Herstelling have advanced from Group B, Grove and Upper Soesdyke from Group C and Timehri and Kaneville from Group D.
Leaving after the group stage were Mocha, Lower Soesdyke, Circuitville and Friendship.
The tournament, which has at stake a top prize of G$1 million, and G$500,000, G$250,000 and G$150,000 for second to fourth place along with cash incentives for the MVP, Highest Goal Scorer and Best Goalkeeper, is made possible through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Housing, National Sports Commission, Bounty Farm Ltd., Fitness Express, Star Rentals, Trophy Stall, NAMILCO and Republic Bank.
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