St Rock YC lift Atlanta Trophy
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
MARGAO, JUNE 6
St Rock’s Youth Club, Majorda scored a first half solitary goal over Sporting Club of Davorlim 1-0 to emerge champions in Atlanta Georgia Trophy inter-village football tournament organized by Enfermos Sports Club in the finals at Rosary ground, Navelim on Sunday.
St. Rock’s took off in attacking mode and maintained the momentum right through. Strikers Agnelo Fernandes and Naveen Mendes combined well with midfielders Remedious Barretto and Preston Rodrigues. The Majorda defence marshaled by Gerson D’Costa and Boaventura Pacheco was compact. Both showed fine anticipation and alertness as they came up with timely tackles to frustrate the Davorlim attackers with the result that Venson Figueiredo and Paxton Gomes were unable to break free from them.
Davorlim soaked a lot of pressure and survived several anxious moments and St Rock ‘s nearly found success in the initial stages but midfielder Remedious Baretto’s rasping drive went wide from handshaking distance. Later, Preston Rodrigues’ snap shot missed the target narrowly.
Davorlim slowly came into their own struck but their forwards hardly troubled the rival rearguard.
The all-important goal came in the 25th minute when striker Agnelo Fernandes beautifully nodded home giving no chance to the Davorlim goalkeeper off a well measured cross from Alister Monteiro.
Stung by the setback, Davorlim tried their best and came close to scoring but St Rock’s goalkeeper Ignatius D’Souza showed fine anticipation to stop Venson Figueiredo and kept the citadel intact.
The second session continued in the same vein with St Rock’s enjoying the lion share of exchanges with their forwards working in tandem with the midfielders. They nearly doubled the lead but substitute Sandric Fernandes’ volley missed the mark narrowly after he was fed by Alister Monteiro.
Earlier Preston Rodrigues’ scorching shot missed the mark narrowly after he was fed by Remedious Baretto.
St Rock’s Youth Club were richer by Rs 30,000 while Sporting Club of Davorlim had to content with Rs 20,000.
Following prizes were awarded Best disciplined team Saligao United. Best goalkeeper of final Ignatius D’Souza of St Rock’s. Best defender of final Piedade Colaco of Sporting Club of Davorlim. Best forward of final Andrew Colaco of Davorlim. Best midfielder of final Remedious Baretto of St Rock’s. Promising player of the tournament Stanley of Enfermos.
Luizinho Faleiro, Congress Working Committee member and ex-chief minister was the chief guest and gave away the prizes. Manuel Baretto was the guest of honour. Former MRF goalkeeper Avertano Furtado was the guest of honour. Earlier, Schubert Furtado, general secretary, Enfermos Sports Club welcomed. In all, 16 teams participated.
