It was not a night for the faint-hearted, as the LIME Pelican Football Challenge continued at the National Stadium on Thursday night.
Bajan Pride made it three wins in three games, nipping Barbados Steelworks Esso Oistins Top Bay Settlers 3-2, while KFC Akademiks picked up their first point of the competition after a 2-2 draw with LG Kick Strike Force.
Bajan Pride romped to a 3-0 lead through Carlo Perry, in the 13th and 52nd minute, and Jomo Harewood, in the 22nd.
However, the tables turned and Top Bay enjoyed a spell of possession that resulted in goals for substitute Henderson Richards in the 58th and midfield magician Raheim Sargeant in the 83rd.
Top Bay fought valiantly for the equalizer but Bajan Pride held firm to ensure their third victory.
It was a case of do or die for Akademiks as they have endured a miserable campaign this year, losing their previous two games 1-0.
In the 17th minute, Arantes Lawrence resurrected some hope for last year’s champions as he leapt above everyone to nod in skipper Randy Burrowes’ inswinging corner from the left.
Strike Force had only themselves to blame for going into the break 1-0 down. Diquan Adamson had his fair share of opportunities along with Elsid Miggins and Carl Joseph, but outstanding goalkeeping by Dario Weir ensured Akademiks went in with the lead.
Strike Force continued to bombard the Akademiks team with constant attacks. Dwayne Mars came close to levelling the scores just after the break but was again thwarted by an alert Weir, who raced off his line to win the one-on-one battle.
Strike Force tied it at 1-1 in the 68th minute from a set piece. Joseph whipped in a left-footed free kick from the right and Aaron Leacock headed home.
Akademiks went ahead in the 75th minute, thanks to the willpower of Lawrence. Nicholas Best played what seemed like a hopeless ball along the ground from the right and Lawrence plunged himself in front of a defender to guide the ball into the far post.
With seven minutes left, “super-sub” Tyrell “Peter Pan” Gibbons came to the rescue of Strike Force with undoubtedly the goal of the tournament.
A cross from the left missed everyone in the area and the ball sat up nicely for Gibbons to unleash a well executed right-foot volley into the far corner to lock the score 2-2. (ROG)
