WALTER ALIBEY
Defence Force claimed their second straight title at the 5th Annual SW Touring/THA Tobago Invitational Masters (Over 40) Football Tournament which ended at the Plymouth Recreational Grounds on Sunday.
The Army Coast-Guard Combination edged Have-A-Time 4—3 on penalty kicks after both sides played to a goal-less draw at the end of regulation time. Playing at home, Have-A- Time were hoping to win the title and be the first team from the sister-isle to do so,but the Soldiers spoiled their plans.
Ex national and Defence Force goalkeeper Earl “Spiderman” Carter pulled off a number of spectacular saves to deny Have-A-Time striker Bert Leith in the opening 20 minutes.
The homesters enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the first half. In the fifth minute Carter was quickly off his line to prevent Leith a clear chance at goal early. And later Carter was again called upon to hold on to Leith’s right side shot in the 12th minute saving.
The Army barely had a sight at their opponent’s goal in the opening half and found themselves having to fend off a persistent Have-A-Time offence. In the closing minute of the half Leith, who singlehanded carried the home team’s attack, found himself with some room in the goal area, but scuffed his attempt wide.
In the second half, the home team continued to press for the opening goal but Defence Force stood firm in defence and countered when the opportunity came. Have-A-Time custodian Maurice Goddard kept a clean sheet for his side denying Defence Force with four minutes left in the game.
With the game ending scoreless, kicks from the penalty mark were used to determined the champions. Have-A-Time’s first kick from Shawn Job was missed while the Army’s captain Kelshall Alexander beat the dive of Goddard to put his team in the lead.
Renford Charles and Marvin Joseph were both successful for Defence Force from the kicks while Maurice Goddard and Robert Dennis netted for Have-A-Time to leave the score at 3-2 in favour of Defence Force.
However on the final round of kicks Warren Nelson netted for Have-A-Time to take the tally to 3-3. But Dexter Durant made no mistake by beating Goddard to earn Armu the title 4-3. THA Secretary of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport Huey Cadette presented Defence Force with the championship trophy. Cadette played 1976 Phoenix.
Speaking after collecting his MVP award, Carter said he had to step up for his team-mates. He added that he was injured last year which prevented him from players.
His replacement Darryl Julien was equally competent and walked away with the MVP and best Goal Keeper awards as well.
The winners collected the winners’s trophy and US$2,000 cheque while Have-A-Time took home for US$1500. Carter walked away with the Best Goal Keeper and Most Valuable Players Awards while Kevin Olivera of Sunday Krew bagged the Most Goals Awards with his tournament tally of six goals. Carter and Olivera each were rewarded with US$150.
In the semi-finals earlier in the day, the outcomes were determined by kicks from the penalty spots. Defence Force got past Toyota 8:7 in sudden death penalty kicks after both squads were locked at 2-2 after full time and 5-5 after the five kicks. The Alexander-led team got the edge after netting its eight attempt while Toyota missed. Have-Time overcame Sunday Krew 4-2 from the mark after the match finished 1-1at the final whistle.
Defence Force advanced to the semis after beating Empire of Barbados 1-0 in their quarterfinal clash while Toyota clipped Wildey’s of Barbados 2-1. Have-A-Time took care of another Barbadian outfit, Flow, 2-1 and Sunday Krew dismissed 2012/2013 champs Juventus of St. Johns 3-0. The start of the quarterfinal games were delayed due to high wind and heavy rains.
Many of the games were played in rain in contrast the bright sunshine which prevailed first two days of the tournament stayed at Canaan/Bon Accord Recreational Grounds.
In the Losers’ Plate finals Old Magic of Tobago beat TSTT 1-0 courtesy a Sherwin O’Neil goal. THA Assistant Secretary of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport Jomo Pitt was part of Old Magic’s line up. The 2015 edition featured 13 teams (three of the 16 registered sides did not show up) with three from Barbados and one each from Grenada and Guyana.
The theme for this year’s tourney is “The Return to Sporting Paradise”. One of the goals for the event is to expose visiting participants and spectators to the unique identity of Tobago's culture, entertainment and cuisine.
The tournament was sponsored by the THA’s Divisions of Tourism & Transport and Division of Education, Youth Affairs & Sport, Screen Stars, Hyper Malta, Dasani Waters, Power-ade, Bumpy’s Roast Meat, Hunte’s Bar Services and Nestles.
awards
Winners-Defence Force
Runners’-up-Have-A-Time
Most Valuable Player-Earl Carter (Defence Force)
Best Goal Keeper-Earl Carter (Defence Force)
Most Goals-Kevin Oliviera (Sunday Krew)-six goals.
Finals;
Defence Force bt Have-Time 4-3 on Penalty kicks after game ended 0-0)
Semifinals;
Defence Force bt Toyota 8-7 (5-5) on penalty kicks after game ended 2-2
Scorers: Steve Mayers-2 (DF); Rodney Stokes (Toyota)
Have-A-Time bt Sunday 4-2 on PK. Game ended 1-1
Scorers: Eldon Paul (HAT)
Quarterfinals;
Defence Force 1 (Kelshal Alexander)-Empire 0
Toyota 2 (Wendel Periera, Edmund Homer)-Wildey’s 1 (Anthony Ford)
Have-A-Time 2 (Burt Leith, Liston Winchester) bt Flow (Anthony Lane)
Sunday Krew 3 (Bernard McCall-2, Kevin Oliviera)-Juventus of St. John’s 0
Losers’ Plate;
Finals: Old Magic (TOB)1 (Sherwin O’Neil)- TSTT (TRI) 0
Semifinal: Old Magic (TOB) 1 (Frankie Skeete) bt GT Masters (GUY) 1 …4-3 on penalties.
Play-off #1: GT Masters (GUY) bt 1976 Phoenix (TOB) by default
Play-off#2: TSTT (TRI) 1 (Jerry Gill)-Real Old Men (GRN) 0