Highlights in Sports with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.
The PLB playoffs was a bang this weekend as the 4 teams making the scene brought out even the kitchen sink in an effort to get off on the good foot. We kick off the action with Saturday night clash between the #1 team going into the post season as Police United took aim at the Belmopan Bandits inside the Isidoro Beaton Stadium to kick off the fireworks. The Bandits look to pounce early off this defensive header from Kishane Pech that reaches Jordi Polanco whose right foot volley deflects dangerously over the Police goal. Folks, Amin August Junior might not have intended to find Franz Vernon, but it’s perfect for the strike to dismiss Tyron Pandy and crushes this left foot past Woodrow West to give the lawmen a 1-zip lead 29 minutes in.
The Bandits look to respond when Evan Mariano centers into the box to find an unattended Elroy Kuylen who should have come up with the equalizer. We’re into 2nd half play with the Bandits in search of a goal. Tyrone Pandy triggers this set piece and what should have been a routine save by Keith Allen almost becomes a nightmare for the Police keeper who is rescued by a determined defensive unit. The Police then tries to double the lead as Franz Vernon Jr. becomes provider for Lennox Castillo who squanders the opportunity with a high riser from pointblank range. Meanwhile, Denmark Casey Jr. uses this set piece to pick out Elroy Kuylen but in the struggle for possession, the loose ball finds Jeremy James all alone in front of goal and he punches it home for the 1-1 tie at the 65th minute.
Now it’s late and we’re looking for a game winner. This splice might have been intended for Marlon Mesa, but it was made perfect off the error by Dalton Eiley and Mesa becomes the hero at the 81st minute as Police United handcuffs the Belmopan Bandits in a 2-1 affair. Now let’s head further west to the Norman Broaster Stadium where Verdes FC hosted the B.D.F. yesterday evening and this innocent deal into the danger zone by Verdes’ Everal Trapp is immensely complicated by this failed defensive header from Vallan Symms that gives Gilroy Thurton an opportunity to score, but Victor Nunez saves the military. At the 29th minute, Vallan Symms raises this set piece to Leon Cadle who heads to Stephen Martinez and the B.D.F. takes the 1-zip lead on Martinez’s vicious header. Richard Jimenez almost ties the score with this trick shot from off the right wing and we must give Tevin Gamboa props for a might save. Verdes continues to press the issue when Rodney Pacheco deals to Jarret Davis who fails to control the ball, bounces to Orlando Jimenez whose pointblank attempt is swatted out by Gamboa. Some 6 minutes after intermission, Colin Thurton looks for Jarret Davis who sneaks in behind the Verdes defensive line to beat Gamboa with a left foot touch, trying the score at 1 apiece. In the meantime, the B.D.F. should have gained the lead when Carlton Thomas beats Benito Morreira the Verdes keeper only fail in his bid to score in an empty goal.
10 minutes later, Thomas tries to make amends by setting table perfectly for Paul Nunez misses the target badly just on top the penalty area. And so we settle for a 1-1 stalemate. Looking ahead finds the B.D.F. and Police United mixing it up at the People’s Stadium Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. while at 7:30 p.m. it’s the clash between Verdes FC and Belmopan bandits inside the Isidoro. The action resumes on Saturday 7:30 p.m.; the Belmopan Bandits will host the B.D.F. and on Sunday at 3:30 p.m., we return to the Isidoro Beaton Stadium at Belmopan where the Police will face Verdes FC.
In cycling news, here’s the start to yesterday’s 40 mile open Christmas race presented by the weekend warriors that would run from Leslie’s Imports and journey on to the Boom junction and swing back to finish where it started. We catch up with the race near Cisco Construction and a 4-man lead is firmly established that includes Ken Gladden, Nehru Gilharry, Michael Lewis and Isaac Willacy. And it’s a 4-man sprint for the money at tape time. Ken Gladden of Scotia Bank turns up the revolutions and is rewarded with the big Win. Nehru Gilharry of Santino’s has to settle for 2nd, Big Mike Lewis riding for Smart pulls up 3rd and Isaac Willacy of Digicell 4G is forced into the 4th position.
Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
