KICK?L.G. Strike Force lived up to their name at Kensington Oval Sunday night.
The Bayland-based franchise manhandled Indar Weir Travel Centre Top Bay Settlers 3-0 in the feature match of the LIME Pelican Football Challenge.
There were also victories for T. S. Strikers, who beat COB Sportstown Galaxy 2-1, courtesy of goals from Carlos Nicholls and Jamal Chandler, and Tech4Less Scotty’s Combined All Stars, who benefited from a late goal by Reno Shepherd to edge DirecTV Red Snappers 1-0.
Smarting from a first game loss and beset by the resignation of coach Rodney Barker, Strike Force received a tremendous boost last Tuesday when respected former Barbados football captain and coach Keith “Grell” Griffith returned home after completing a 15-month stint in the United States Virgin Islands.
Griffith had just two coaching sessions with the team on Thursday and Saturday after agreeing to double as technical director/coach, and his presence on the sidelines dictating strategy made all the difference.
National left-winger Carl Joseph gave the Strike Force the perfect start, running on to a through ball from midfielder Elsid Miggins and calmly lobbing the ball over Top Bay Settlers’ goalkeeper Delandro Belgrave who had rushed off his line.
Two minutes later, Top Bay’s woes were compounded when sweeper Dwayne “Ticky” Skinner had to be substituted after falling awkwardly trying to challenge Dwayne Mars.
Strike Force also lost the services of the experienced Rudy Grosvenor – who had a shot blocked by Belgrave – in the 18th minute because of a hamstring problem.
Top Bay should’ve equalized midway into the half but lanky striker Hendy Richards, after moving into the 18-yard box, had his near post shot deflected by goalkeeper Kareem Farrell for a corner, while Ryan “Shaky” Griffith’s fancy attempted bicycle kick looked more like a flat tyre.
Strike Force doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Joseph set free Mars on the right side and slotted past a hapless Belgrave.
Strike Force maintained their dominance in the second half with Neblett, Joseph and Kareem Latham combining well on the left side, while Muggins stood out in midfield.
After Latham dislocated his shoulder, substitute Shawn Hackett brought more energy to the Strike Force forward line, forcing Belgrave to parry one of his shots.
Joseph sealed the outcome in the 78th minute when he kept the ball in play on the goal line, then turned past his marker and from an acute angle unbelievably clipped the ball with his right foot past Belgrave and into the far corner.
Top Bay’s wretched night got even worse when referee Adrian Skeete gave substitute Trevor Mayers a red card for a challenge from behind on Aaron Leacock.
In the opening match, Nicholls scored in the 49th minute for T.S. Strikers after receiving a cross from Armando Lashley, and two minutes later Chandler dribbled a couple of defenders before hammering the ball into the roof of the net.
The second game, one which Snappers’ captain Jeffrey Williams would want to forget, was decided in the 83rd minute when All Stars’ striker Tristan Parris’ shot across the goalmouth was pushed home on the left side by Shepherd
from the edge of the six-yard box.
