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FOOTBALL FANS braved the inclement weather on Saturday to witness the opening of the 2015 season of the Caribbean Welders Fishing Pond Football League at the Fishing Pond Recreation Ground. Peter Park, CEO of main sponsor Caribbean Welders, was present to wish the 12 competing teams well as they begin battle for the coveted $40,000 first prize.

Member of Parliament for Toco/Sangre Grande Dr Rupert Griffith could not be there but was thanked by league organiser Prakash Ramkissoon for donating this year’s trophies as well as the $1,000 prize for the march past. Also at the venue was Barry Lochan, vice-chairman of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation.

Newcomers Dragon FC made a surprise winning start to their campaign, impressing the judges sufficiently to take the march past title.

It was soon down to action as former champions Boys Town met Take That and Cool It in the opening match fit for a final. “Cool It”, who played the majority of the match with an extra man, had to come from behind twice to secure the three points in a see-saw contest that ended 4-2 in their favour.

Boys Town would strike first through Isiah Smith and had the better of the early exchanges, winning the ball early and breaking on their opponents. Forward Kerin Vincent almost made it 2-0, collecting a pass on top the box from Joel Hoyte, swivelling past his marker and shooting with his left-foot but the “Cool It” goalie made a good save. At the other end, Keston Campbell was sent clean through on goal but blasted a left-footer onto the crossbar with just the keeper to beat.

“Cool It” would draw level though, drawing a foul in the box and Justin Fournillier calmly converted the penalty. It went from bad to worse for Boys Town when midfielder Rondell Vincent picked up his second yellow card for a handball and was given his marching orders just before the half. Boys Town, on the defensive as their rivals looked to make their numerical superiority count, should have went ahead upon the resumption when a sloppy backpass by Kevin Daniel was intercepted by Hoyte. Last year’s league MVP raced to goal unchallenged but could not beat the “Cool It” goalie who stuck out his right boot to deflect his right-footed shot wide.

Boys Town did take the lead though, Hoyte sending in an inviting inswinger from a free-kick on the right which was met by Kerin Vincent who headed down and into the back of the net with the goalie rooted.

The scoreline did not last a minute though, “Cool It” capitalising on a couple gazing Boys Town defenders with a through pass down the middle that found Mark Rivers who held off the last defender and poked past the onrushing goalie. The goal deflated Boys Town considerably and with a man short lost their shape and discipline.

The skillful Kristian Melonex, who terrorised Boys Town’s defenders the entire game, showed what he could do with time and space; collecting the ball on the right after a switch play and with no defender in sight, Melonex let loose a swerving shot that flew into the top left and past the despairing dive of the goalie to make it 3-2. There was no coming back for Boys Town as a late penalty scored by “Cool It” sealed their fate.