Delroy “Tin Man” Andrews claimed his national team credentials when he shook off two defenders and burned BDF’s All Belize goalie Woodrow West with a left foot grounder at the 82nd minute of action on Saturday night, April 2, at the MCC Grounds in Belize City, to give F.C. Belize the 1-nil lead; but BDF’s Mr. Everything, Erwin “Bird” Flores drove in a header from a Richard Jimenez center to tie the game 1-1 in injury time. Both Bird and Tin Man entered the game about mid-way of the 2nd half in a then scoreless but keenly contested match.
Usually a sure conversion, BDF sweeper Vallan Symms kicked his penalty just wide to the left, after Danny Jimenez had been taken down in the 18 at about the 58th minute. F.C. Belize dodged another bullet at the 76th minute, when a free kick rocket from 35 yards out by BDF’s Orlando “Leechi” Jimenez was about to pierce the left “pigeon hole” in the southern goal when young F.C. Belize goalie Glenford Chimilio was just in time to chip it over the bar. A good young prospect, Chimilio’s inexperience showed in the air balls across goal, and the veteran Bird Flores pounced mercilessly for his game tying goal at the 91st minute.
With veteran Chris Gilharry serving a suspension, and Allie Thurton still unable to train with the team due to work schedule, F.C. Belize put the strong though not fleet-footed Emmanuel Agbo to sweep in defence, but Agbo pulled a muscle early and had to leave the game. Despite applying a lot of pressure on the young F.C. Belize team, the defending champions showed that they are yet to achieve the level of attacking efficiency they displayed last year. Neither David Trapp, Tyrone Pandy or young Denmark Casey were on the BDF roster on Saturday.
In other BPFL action, on Sunday at the San Felipe Football Field, the visiting Hankook Verdes came up short again, as home standing San Felipe Barcelona sent them back on the short end of a 3-2 score, the fourth loss for Verdes in as many outings so far. All the Verdes losses have been by 1-goal margins, as shown by their -4 goal difference. Will the “Green Machine” come roaring back soon? Shaking the net for San Felipe were Eduardo Morales (5 min), Harvey Cruz (58 min) and Clifton West (59 min); while Julian Maldonado (44 min) and Marlon “El Matador” Meza (74 min) hit the target for Verdes.
Round 5 schedule:
Saturday, April 9
8:00 p.m. – Hankook Verdes vs San Felipe Barcelona – Marshalleck Stadium
Sunday, April 10
4:00 p.m. – Belize Defence Force vs F.C. Belize – Norman Broaster Stadium