Fishing Pond Youths make slow climb

Fishing Pond Youths picked up back-to-back draws to continue their slow ascent in the Caribbean Welders Fishing Pond Football League standings at the Fishing Pond Recreation Ground.

Coming up against Express on Sunday, Fishing Pond Youths and Express played to a thrilling 3-3 draw in front a partisan crowd. Fishing Pond should have got all three points but poor shooting and naivety cost them against a ruthless Express.

Fishing Pond Youths had their supporters in a raucous mood courtesy an early goal from Raqweeb Searles but the item was quickly cancelled out by Andell Sampson. Fishing Pond found themselves ahead again with Searles on target once more. The euphoria seemed to get the better of the home team as the entire team including the goalkeeper celebrated the goal by their corner flag and were unaware play was about to resume. Express’ Akiel Timothy wasted no time from the touch, and blasted the ball into the goal from the half-line to stun Fishing Pond Youths and their supporters before the half. Despite their protests, the goal stood as the referee noted all their players were on the field when he blew the whistle for the resumption.

Fishing Pond came out hungry for goals in the second period but were again wayward in front goal and squandered three straight chances.

Express had three cracks at goal in a mad sequence of play but again the shooting left a lot to be desired, Firstly, forward Carlos Garcia saw his close range shot cannon off the bar and back to his team-mate whose header went wide but the referee ruled that he was fouled and awarded a penalty. Garcia took the penalty but his tame effort was easily gobbled up by the goalie. Express, however, were making inroads in the Fishing Pond defence and Kevon La Fon showed good strength on a counter to hold off a defender and squeeze a left footer into the far post from a raid down the left.

Fishing Pond were not done, though, and Dillion Ramsammy made it 3-3 with a tap-in after the ball was fizzed across goal from a left-sided cross.

Earlier in the week, Fishing Pond Youths and SP Boys played to a 2-2 draw. In other results, Boys Town rose to second in the standings with a 5-0 thumping of the league’s “whipping boys” Two Touch. Alescon FC and Manzan United picked up three points each with default wins over North Oropouche and El Carmen 45 respectively.