Darian King traded his tennis racket for football boots on Friday night to help former champions Christ Church East Central advance to the second round of the David Thompson Memorial Constituency Councils Football Classic.
The island’s top tennis player scored twice to set up a 3-1 win against St Michael Central in a repeat of the 2015 final at the Wotton ground.
King gave Christ Church East Central the lead in the 17th minute before teammate Shakem Shepherd made it 2-0 ten minutes later.
Zinio Harris scored for St Michael Central in the 32nd minute, but King put the issue beyond doubt with his second strike 12 minutes from the end.
In the earlier game, St James South crushed St Michael 6-1, thanks to a brace from Darian Blunt, strikes from Marcus Best, Rashad Smith, D’Angelo Ward and an own goal. Jared Maxius netted the consolation goal for St Michael East.
Over at Rices, St Michael South Central and St Philip South also secured a place in the last 16 with contrasting victories.
While St Michael South Central were easy 6-1 winners against St Michael North East, St Philip South needed a stoppage time penalty to edge St Michael South 3-2.
St Michael North East took an early lead against St Michael South Central, but it was one-traffic afterwards. A hat-trick from Eric Joseph, a double strike by Corey Barrow and a goal from Maradona Springer contributed to St Michael South Central’s win.
In the night-cap game, St Philip South led 2-0 at half-time thanks to goals from Demar Linton and Rico Brathwaite, but a brace by Shaquille Boyce in the 63rd and 69 minutes levelled the game.
It required a penalty from T’Shane Lorde in the first minute of stoppage time to decide the contest in St Philip South’s favour. (HG)
