Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme (BDFSP) have a fresh addition to their already impressive trophy cabinet after a penalty shoot-out victory over Brittons Hill United at the Empire Club in the inaugural Barbados Football Association’s Williams Equipment Pre-Season Cup on Sunday night.
After 110 minutes of open play failed to produce a goal, BDFSP clinched the Cup with a 7-6 advantage from spot kicks.
The gold medal match had a very intense start, with Brittons Hill forcing an opportunity in the first minute. BDFSP slowly grew into the game and, as is their custom, started to dominate possession as they attempted to create chances via the long-ball route and crosses from the flanks.
Brittons Hill did their research on the opposition and successfully repelled their advances, looking to spring the counter-attack, especially through wide player Jabarry Greenidge on the right side. On the same flank for BDFSP, Shaquille Boyce went on a few mazy runs, but was denied any joy by the resolute wall led by Omar Archer in the centre of defence.
With both teams evenly matched, cancelling each other out and the goalkeepers keeping their penalty areas disciplined and orderly, the thought of the lottery of penalties saturated the minds of the crowd.
After 90 minutes, youthful referee Jamar Springer awarded Brittons Hill a free kick 30 yards from goal and a chance to win it at the death. BDFSP’s goalkeeper Kishmar Primus put a sturdy hand to the resulting free kick, but substitute Travis Coppin failed to get any sort of a Midas touch to the rebound in what was the final action of the half.
Two ten-minute periods of extra time were played at a fairly low tempo as the fans and players alike prepared for the inevitable shoot-out.
Referee Springer whistled the end of 110 minutes of football, leaving the fate of the championship in the hands of the goalkeepers.
BDFSP’s Omani Leacock was first up to take a penalty and he was also the first to miss as Brittons Hill’s custodian Shaquille Frank came out the victor. His teammate Kemar Smith was next, putting the ball in the net before Shane Codrington stepped up to level the scores.
Rohan Hall’s penalty was saved by Primus, diving to his right. It was then the goalie’s turn and Primus confidently dispatched his kick past his opposite number. Brittons Hill’s Omar Archer, Hendy Richards and Romario Small, BDFSP’s captain Ricardio Morris and Darico King all scored to take the shoot-out into sudden death at four penalties apiece.
Four successful penalties later and Tshane Lorde stepped up to give the advantage to BDFSP with a strong penalty in the bottom left corner. Brittons Hill’s Jabarry Greenidge had to score to continue the shoot-out, but Primus emerged as the hero to claim a spectacular victory and the $4 000 prize for BDFSP.
Scores of fans attended the final day of the tournament and also enjoyed the third-place play-off between Abrahams United Silver Sands and Crane & Equipment Ellerton. An early goal was again Ellerton’s downfall as they succumbed to a first-minute strike from Silver Sands’ Mario Birkett.
It was all the boys from the South needed as they claimed third spot and the cash prize of $1 000, twice the sum awarded to their opponents. (NM)