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Sat, Apr

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FIVE-time champions Parliament FC produced their best performance of the season to get past defending champs MAASH International 3-2 in a Group B contest of the Eddie Hart Football League (EHFL) last week.

Playing at the Eddie Hart Savannah (EHS) in Tacarigua, an improved Parliament outfit, who barely made it to the last eight, completely outplayed the title-holders for most of the 90-minute encounter to secure their second win and a place in the semi-finals.

Four of the goals on Monday came from the penalty spot, with two going to each team.

Anthony Guppy, who returned to the Parliament line-up after missing a couple of games, netted the first spot kick to increase his team's lead to 2-0 early in the second period.

Earlier, the same player scored the opening item for the ex-champs, when his weak left-footed shot defeated a badly positioned MAASH custodian, K Spencer, on his first post to hand the opposition a 1-0 advantage at the break.

However, MAASH came back into the contest when they were awarded the second and third kicks from the spot in quick succession. Both were converted by midfielder Tosca Bartholomew, with less than 20 minutes to go.

But the fightback by the boys from Arouca was short-lived as Parliament were given a second chance from ten metres out which they converted to make it two wins in two outings and send them to the top of the standing in their group.

Parliament, who won the title in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2008, now lead Group B with six points with one game to go. They are followed by MAASH (three points) on goal difference over a tricky Petit Bourg Youths bunch (three), who shocked Santos FC 3-1 in the opening affair on Monday to set up a crucial final match against MAASH next Monday.

MAASH will need one point from that contest to continue their title defence, while Petit Bourg require a victory to extend their season.

In Group A, all games contested to date have ended in draws. The latest such result came in a goalless tie between Spain Slappers and Paradise FC at the EHS on Wednesday.

It was Slappers' second goalless stalemate in as many affairs, following their opening encounter against never-say-die Pacemakers, who picked up a creditable second draw (2-2) against their Arouca neighbours Bon Air FC on Tuesday at the EHS.

Indifferent Bon Air were very lucky to come away with something from their first game in Group A due to extremely poor finishing by Pacemakers in the dying moments.

Their opening fixture with arch-rivals Paradise, which was scheduled for last Saturday, did not come off due to an unfit surface.