ANTHONY Abrams hit a double as Fruta Conquerors claimed their second crown in the annual Kashif & Shanghai Christmas Football Festival, whipping Blackheart Dennery of St Lucia, 4-1, at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground, Linden, on New Year’s Day.
In the supporting game, Western Tigers tamed Eagles United 3-1 while Kwakwani needled Metro Stars 1-0 in a youth encounter.
Conquerors' other goals came from captain Elroy Parks and Neil Hernandez, while Shervan Edwards tucked in the consolation for Dennery.
The visitors forced the first corner within two minutes of play and Conquerors replied with theirs, three minutes later and from there gradually began controlling the run of play. Abrams received the ball just outside the box, passed to a free Dexter Bentick at left, but he shot high over the bar.
It was not until the 20th minute that Dennery had a good attack. Edwards broke past the defence at the left top of the box, shot, but Johnson effected a brilliant save.
Seven minutes later, Bentick raced with the ball on the left wing, reached the box, but shot past the last post. In the 30th minute, Abrams collected the ball just outside the box, raced into the box, and as he shot, a defence player got his foot in to block.
Shortly after, several incentives were announced for Conquerors to score. If they win, they would collect an additional $100 000 from Dreamworks and another $50 000 from Hillaire’s Jewellery. The first scorer would also pocket $50 000.
Wingback Walter Moore was the first to take a try for the prize. He sent a cannon from 40 metres out at the left and the ball hit the crossbar. Then in a beautiful piece of play, Abrams was fouled in the box for a penalty. Hernandez sent a pass from centre to the right, backward to Abrams, who found Bentick to his left. Bentick passed back to Abrams who had raced in from the wing, dribbled the defence and was working his way to goal. He was brought down and referee Dianne Ferreira-James pointed to the penalty spot.
Firecrackers erupted from all parts of the venue and on the field of play, the smoke became so thick that the game was delayed for some minutes. Jermaine Browne lined up for the shot, had the goalkeeper moving to his right, but the ball zoomed past the right post.
Soon after, Conquerors attacked down the left wing and got a direct free kick. Parks took the kick from 35 metres out, the ball bounced between the players in the wall and went past the goalkeeper into the far corner of the goal and Parks became $50 000 richer.
Another announcement blared across the ground - Cellink was putting up a GSM phone to the player who scored a second goal for Conquerors.
But Dennery nearly equalised as Gabriel Benjamin attempted two successive shots to goal, with Johnson thwarting the effort with two brilliant saves. Conquerors led 1-0 at halftime.
Ten minutes after the resumption, Dennery made a double change, but that did not prevent the goal two minutes later. Abrams collected the ball on the right wing, raced down the the flank, shot diagonally from 35 metres out and the ball zoomed to the far corner.
Dennery made one more change, 16 minutes in, and Conquerors a double substitution ten minutes later.
Then in the 78th minute, Hernandez flew the offside trap, raced to the left of the box, shot from 20 metres to rock the net, taking Conquerors to a 3-0 lead.
The St Lucians replied with one, a minute later. Edwards advanced with the ball, Johnson went diving but did not get the ball and Edwards sent a flat shot into the net for the consolation.
Abrams decorated the win, three minutes into stoppage time. Hernandez raced with the ball on the right wing, crossed and Abrams raced from ten metres out.
Earlier, Western Tigers dominated Eagles United, as National captain blasted a hatrick. But Renwick Hutson hit home the first goal within five minutes of play. He took a free kick from 25 metres outside the right edge of the box, capitalising on a foul committed by Julian Barker. The ball zoomed over the wall and dipped into the far corner.
Beveney commanded the right wing and it was not surprising when he equalised in the 41st minute. He carried the ball, found Gavin Wilson at centre of the box. Wilson crossed back to the now free Beveney who shot to the last post.
Four minutes later, the Tigers attacked down the centre, Eron Hayde passed to Beveney at right, shot just inside the box, the goalkeeper got his hands to the ball, but the power still carried into the net. Tigers led 2-1 at halftime.
Beveney completed his hattrick from the penalty spot, four minutes into the second half. He received a pass from the centre, raced with the ball on the right wing, reached the box and was brought down just as he was about to shoot. He made no mistake from the spot.
Dennery lost their second final in two consecutive championships staged by the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation, both to Guyanese teams, firstly in the International Football Festival in St Lucia and now in Christmas Football Festival.
About 10 000 persons witnessed the final, including President Bharrat Jagdeo who remained after the match to present the championship trophy and prize money sponsored by the government.