Elijah Manners, a new signing, was on the scoresheet as Pro League runner’s up Central FC defeated Pro League aspirants Guaya United 4-1 in a pre-season friendly at New Settlement ground, Caroni.
Central never seemed to miss recently sent on-loan utility player Jamal Jack, who played the entire match for Guyana’s Alpha United on Tuesday night, in a 1-0 Concacaf Champions League match defeat to Olympia of Honduras at the Guyana National Stadium.
At the end of a total 120 minutes of football, Central FC beat a strong Guaya United outfit 4-1.
The Sharks teams dominated their Green Army counterparts in each half, but looked best in the first 45 minutes when they used their full Pro League squad, including players Darren Mitchell, Jason Marcano, goalie Jan Michael Williams, Kaydion Gabriel, Kevin Villaroel, Leston Paul, Nathaniel Garcia and Manners—a recent free transfer from San Juan Jabloteh.
A second session saw Central changing their entire squad and using mainly trialist. During that period they scored two further goals, but none in the final session.
Guaya, last year’s champions of the semi-professional National Super League, now know they have to make a step up to be competitive in the Pro League, which they are aspiring to join for the 2014-2015 season.
It took Central just ten minutes to take the lead, when veteran midfielder Marvin Oliver converted from the penalty spot. Thirty-five minutes into the match, Marcano took the score to 2-0 with a brilliant turn and finish into the top corner, following good work from Qian Grovesnor.
A headed goal in the 51st put Central into a three-goal lead, and they got a fourth towards the end with a low shot from 20 metres out. Guaya pulled one back in the 65th and were down 3-1 at one stage.