First Choice makes winning Start in Masters League

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

First Choice Masters made a winning start to their 2013 Gas Pro Western Masters Football League campaign on Sunday when they clipped fellow Zone 'A' contender Challengers 1-0 in the first game of the competition's season-opening double-header at the Herbert Morrison Technical High School grounds.

The keenly contested game saw the Ricky Warburton-conditioned Challengers striking the crossbar three times in their unsuccessful bid to get on the score sheet. The First Choice outfit snatched victory courtesy of a first-half strike by former Rusea's star striker Alme McFarlane.

In the afternoon's second game, a Zone 'B' clash between the competition's most successful team, Hanover Masters, and the sprightly Sandy Bay Masters, the much-anticipated fireworks did not materialise as the teams ended in a 0-0 draw.

"It was a most enterprising start to the season, and we are pleased about it," said Bryan Miller, a member of the competition's steering committee. "For many fans, this league football is special because it churns out the most excitement."

VYING FOR STEVE BUCKNOR TROPHY

The competition, which will see the victorious team taking home the Steve Bucknor Trophy, is being contested by 10 teams divided into two zones of five teams each. The teams are as follows: Zone 'A' - First Choice, Challenger Masters, Life TV Masters, Advent Masters, and Violet Tourers. Zone 'B' - Hanover Masters, Sandy Bay Masters, Jamaica Brazil, Queen of Spain Masters, and Logwood Stump.

At the completion of the competition's preliminary phase, which will see the teams meeting twice in their respective zones, the top two teams in each zone will advance to a four-team semi-final phase. The zone winners will play-off with the second place winner in the opposite zone to decide the two finalists.

Sunday's opening round of matches was quite a nostalgic affair for the fans as among the players on show were the likes of former national midfield star Hector Wright, who turned out for First Choice; and Durrant Brown and Devon Ricketts, who turned out for Hanover Masters.

The competition carries no prize money, but will see the first-, second- and third-place finishers taking home gold, silver, and bronze medals. It is sponsored by Gas Pro to the tune of $200,000.

The competition will continue tomorrow afternoon with four games, all starting at 4. In Zone 'A', First Choice will do battle with Life TV at the Flanker playing field, while Advent Masters will battle Violet Tourers at the UDC playing field. In Zone 'B', Queen of Spain Masters will host Hanover Masters at Friendship in Trelawny, while Logwood Stump will battle Jamaica Brazil at the Albion Youth Centre.