Belmopan Bandits raid Acros Bombers for 4-2 win
Good evening I’m James Adderley and this is the latest version of Sports Monday. Yesterday brought up the last playing date on the regular season schedule in the Regent’s Cup Tournament, and it found the young Acros Brown Bombers fighting to avoid relegation in a match-up against league leading Builder’s Hardware Bandits of Belmopan at the MCC Grounds.
With its semi-pro future on the line of Bombers look to get off early when Charlie Slusher misplays this ball, but he recovers in time. Belmopan responds immediately when David McCauley sets table for Derys Benavides, only to see the Bombers keeper Centeno come up with a big time save. Edmund “The Buzzard” Pandy then attacks from the left side, but his left foot launch zips outside the sticks.
Now keep your eyes on Tyrone Muschamp, who mounts this magnificent run against Derron Jones, which concludes with a powerful shot that Charlie Slusher can do nothing about. And the young upstarts take a 1-nil lead fifteen minutes in.
The Bandits reply comes some twenty-four minutes later when Raul Celiz catches up with this header and his right foot shot smashes into the far upright and ends up in the back of the net for the 1-1 tie going to intermission.
In second half play, Muschamp looks for his second goal of the match with this long-range bomb, but Charlie Slusher is well positioned in goal. The Bombers continue to force the issue and how they failed to convert on this press here remains a thing of mystery.
At the other end, the Bandits come up with a wicked header from Jair Perera, but the Acros keeper Centeno comes up with yet another save.
From the outside, Celiz looks for his second goal of the match, but his launch misses the target. However, the Bandits do break the tie when Jair Perera beats Centeno for the 2-1 Belmopan lead.
The Bombers, looking for the equaliser, launched this left foot low cruise missile only to see Charlie Slusher stretch out to make a brilliant save.
A few minutes later, Tyrone Muschamp dances through the Bandits defence, but gets taken down from behind and the man with the whistle rules penalty. Muschamp steps up to the plate and embarrasses Charlie Slusher for his second goal of the match as the game screeches to a 2-2 tie.
For the rest of the way, however, it’s all Belmopan. David Trapp delivers this corner into the danger zone, Centeno pushes the ball to Celiz, who goes for the header, but he ball bounces off his knee for the 3-2 lead.
Again, the Builders Hardware Bandits strike off the corner kick and again its David Trapp with the delivery as Jair Perera comes up with his second goal of the match. The Builders post the 4-2 big W.
In other results from Week eighteen, Griga United edged Juventus Stars 2-1, Acros Real Verdes rolled over San Pedro 3 to 1. Kulture Yabra survived at Jacintoville in a 1-zip finish, while at O.W. Lazio F.C. and Corozal rallied to a scoreless stalemate.
Thus at the end of regular season the Bandits finish atop the standings with 41 points, Griga United shows 37, Kulture Yabra 35 and Juventus Stars conclude with 34 to make the playoffs.
Therefore Saturday night the Bandits and Juventus kick off their 3 game series in the semi-final round at Belmopan, while Kulture Yabra travels to Dangriga for game 1 with Griga United. They will be without the services of Norman “Tilliman” Nunez, who was booked two games by the B.P.F.L.
Meanwhile, Verdes finishes with 30 points and the Corozal F.C. with 19, both ballclubs automatically remain inside the semi-pro league. As a result, Lazio with 18 points, Acros with 16 and San Pedro with 14 must battle for survival in the relegation round. As for Jacintoville, well they’re forced to retire from the B.P.F.L., having only garnered four points through eighteen matches.
Changing gears, here are the results of the weekend Saturday race held on March second. In the junior ranks, it was Mark Staine and Red House taking top honours, beating out Ian Yearwood and Miguel Jones. The time was 1 hour, 52 minutes, 20 seconds.
In the female race, Anamarie Bennett outlasted Fiona Gonzales. And in the senior ranks, Mateo Cruz, Quinton “The Baddest” Hamilton and Alan Auil were engaged in a sprint to the tape. It was Mateo Cruz taking top honours in 2 hours, 35 minutes, 40 seconds. Quinton Hamilton second, Alan Auil third, Henry Moriera fourth, while Elbert Pope rounds out the top five.
Of course as we know, Monday the eleventh brings up the mighty San Cas Plaza Belmopan Classic and yeah, that’s a biggie. After that, the biggest of all comes up, that’s on Holy Saturday, the annual cross-country event. Hey, life is real. Who’s it gonna be? Your guess is as good as mine. However, that’s it for now, we invite you back same time, same place next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
