GEGO Football Club on Sunday became the ninth team to move to the summit as the struggle of the defending champions continued in St Elizabeth in the LIME National Street Futsal Competition.

GEGO FC trounced Treasure Beach 8-4 in the final to claim the crown and $150,000 after defending champions Real Treasure Beach were knocked out in the first round. Treasure Beach, the other half of the defending champions, were awarded $50,000.

The New Market-based team has joined the ranks of Bath Sports Club, T-Squared, Riders FC, Aaron Strikers, Pump House FC, Copperwood Farm, Cali and Grange Hill Alliance, who are one step closer to the grand prize of $1.5 million.

Jermaine Beckford, manager of the winning team, is already expressing confidence that his team can go all the way in the National Championships.

“We are elated right now, knowing that it is our first time entering and we are now the champions of the parish, so it definitely feels good,” Beckford told the Jamaica Observer.

He continued: “My team is always relaxed and sometimes we tend to go under pressure, but we always bounce back. So I think my team is ready for the National final, we have a few things that we need to enhance as we move forward.

“This is a team that grew together, and with the chemistry that we have we are going to use this money as a thrust towards the $1.5 million. We know it won’t be easy but we are not threatened by other teams, so the plan is to continue playing our natural game and execute properly.”

Captain of Treasure Beach, Christopher Riley, told the Observer that inexperience led to their undoing.

“We tried our best but two players could not do it at all times, because the rest of the players are very young and inexperienced and they could not hold out straight to the end. But we did our best and the better team won.

“The money is not a lot, but we are grateful that we came out with something. We are going to use it to provide some more footwear and a little nutritional products as we head back to training,” he said.

The spectator turnout at the Santa Cruz Sports Complex was the second largest of the nine parishes visited, so far and was also the most entertaining stop of the competition as 97 electrifying goals were scored.

The day got off to a fitting start as Taj Isley netted all seven goals in Buz Ruck’s devastating 7-1 win over Devastators in warm, sunny mid-morning conditions with a slight wind occasionally sweeping across the venue.

Roxx (Roxanne) Stars FC hammered Maggoty All Stars 6-1; GEGO FC outscored Untouchable Strikers 5-4, while Infinity Strikers, Dunkley FC and Rio Strikers were all 3-2 winners over Sparta FC, Rock Star United and Real Treasure Beach, respectively.

STETHS FC, which comprise of coach Omar Wedderburn and other members of staff, clipped Leeds Gunners 1-0, while Treasure Beach were given a bye after their opponents New River failed to show.

The teams elevated the tempo for the second round as 26 goals were scored in four encounters, headlined by GEGO FC’s 7-1 whipping of Dunkley FC. Treasure Beach got by Buz Ruck 5-3; Infinity Strikers stopped STETHS FC 3-1, while Roxx Star FC were 4-2 winners over Rio Strikers.

The goal fest continued in the semi-final round where Treasure Beach defeated Infinity Strikers 4-2 in the first encounter. Chad Burton (first), Dylan Campbell (19th), Rameon Buchanan (23rd) and Christopher Riley (29th) were the scorers for Treasure Beach, while Marlon Fletcher (14th and 18th) got the goals for Infinity Strikers who again failed to make it past this round.

The second encounter between GEGO FC and Roxx Star FC was a 10-goal thriller and was decided in extra-time, where GEGO FC netted twice for a 6-4 win after they played to a 4-4 scoreline in regulation time.

Omar Gayle (second and 31st) and Christopher Reid (17th and 25th) led the scoring for GEGO FC with Okefe Brown (23rd) and Kendar Shaw (33rd) getting the others. Renardo Attride (18th and 30th), Dwayne Brown (5th) and Rushawn Lewis (14th) got the goals for the hapless Roxx Star FC.

The LIME dancers thrilled spectators with an hour-and-a-half entertainment and give-aways package as the teams were allowed to recuperate before the start of the final.

With the formalities out the way, GEGO FC went about business as they grabbed the early ascendancy with a 2-0 lead when Omar Gayle drove home a beautiful left-foot shot before stunning defenders with a cheeky back heel in the fourth and fifth minutes of the game.

It was end-to-end action thereafter with Treasure Beach clawing their way back through Dylan Campbell, who was on hand to fire home from a deflection in the 10th minute.

Ajai Black restored GEGO FC’s two-goal cushion with a 15th minute strike, which was quickly cancelled by Sandre Anderson who also netted in the 15th-minute. Christopher Riley unfortunately scored an own goal in the 20th minute which put GEGO FC 4-2 up at the interval.

And just as it was in the finale in Westmoreland, the game took a twist at the resumption as Treasure Beach pulled level through a quick brace by Chad Burton in the 21st and 22nd minutes.

However, there were to be no more surprises as GEGO FC regained the ascendancy, thanks to Gayle and Kendar Shaw who both netted twice to put the game beyond the reach of their opponents.

Shaw found the net in the 32nd and 37th minutes, while Gayle added to his tally in the 36th and 37th minutes to be named the day’s top marksman with 10 goals.

The competition continues in

St Mary and Portland on Saturday and Sunday.