GCC Elite’s commanding women’s performance highlighted Sunday’s play in the Guyana Hockey Board’s Independence competition, as the finalists were confirmed at the National Stadium.
The 8-0 win over Old Fort Inferno sent GCC Elite into last evening’s women’s final against Hikers, while Old Fort Top Form and Pepsi Hikers secured the two places in the men’s championship match.
GCC Elite controlled their contest from the start and built steadily across the match. They led 1-0 after the first period, 2-0 at half-time and 5-0 at the end of the third period before closing out the game with three more goals in the final quarter.
Alyssa Gilkes gave GCC Elite the lead with a field goal in the 10th minute, while Amariah Sahadeo doubled the advantage in the 23rd minute. Gabriella Xavier then struck twice in quick succession, scoring from open play in the 39th minute and from a penalty corner one minute later.
Gilkes added her second goal in the 41st minute before Sahadeo also completed her double in the 52nd. Abosaide Cadogan converted a penalty stroke in the 57th minute, and Rebecca Ferreira added the final goal to complete the comprehensive victory.
Hikers booked the other women’s final spot with a narrow 1-0 win over Saints. The match was goalless after the first period before Trinity Greaves broke the deadlock in the 28th minute with a field goal. Hikers carried the lead into half-time and held firm for the remainder of the match.
In the men’s division, Old Fort Top Form moved into the final with a 3-0 win over GCC. Nkosi Saul opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a field goal before captain Shaquon Favorite converted a penalty corner in the 11th minute to give Old Fort a 2-0 lead at half-time.
The score remained unchanged through the third period before Simeon Moore sealed the result with a field goal in the 59th minute.
Pepsi Hikers also advanced after playing to a 3-3 draw with Saints in the late men’s fixture. Robert France put Pepsi Hikers ahead in the fifth minute, but Saints responded through Jabari Lovell from a penalty corner in the eighth minute. France scored again in the same minute to restore Hikers’ lead, while Deheron Wilkinson converted a penalty corner in the 15th minute to make it 3-1.
Saints, however, fought back in the second half. Shakeem Fausette scored from a penalty corner in the 44th minute before Aaron Abraham completed the comeback with a field goal in the 54th minute.
GCC Elite and Hikers were scheduled to meet last evening in the women’s final at 6:30pm, followed by Old Fort Top Form against Pepsi Hikers in the men’s final at 8pm. The results from both finals will be carried in a subsequent report.
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