CLAYTONS KOLA TONIC Notre Dame took flight with clinical 4-0 rout of Abrahams United Silver Sands while Empire Club had to fight off a stern challenge from a spirited Brittons Hill United to win 2-1 for their first success of the Premier League season at the Wildey AstroTurf on Tuesday.
A hat-trick from Antoine Greaves, along with an unerring finish by Zeco Edmee, elevated Renaldo Gilkes’ men to second in the Zone 1 standings.
Both teams started brightly and created lots of opportunities to score, but Dames drew first blood after intercepting a pass in midfield in the 18th minute. Breaking away down the left, the Dames found Greaves one-on-one with goalkeeper Gabriel Layne, who was left to pick the ball out of the back of his net.
Just after the half-hour mark, a cross from the right found Edmee unmarked in the penalty area and his first-time shot beat the goalkeeper into the far corner.
Two minutes later Notre Dame defender Akeem Broomes handled the ball in the penalty area, gifting Silver Sands a golden opportunity to halve the deficit from the spot.
Troy Johnson scored the initial penalty for Silver Sands but referee Andrew Herbert spotted encroachment in the area and ordered the kick to be retaken.
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Goalkeeper Ron Pile took advantage, superbly stopping Johnson’s second attempt.
Greaves completed his hat-trick with two goals in five second-half minutes.
In the 82nd minute, a throw-in by the quick-thinking Chad Bynoe caught Silver Sands sleeping and Edmee found his strike partner.
In the 87th minute, Greaves collected a fine through-pass before placing a calm finish past the onrushing goalie to cap a strong team display.
In the night cap, Empire finally claimed their first scalp of the season by fighting off a stiff challenge from Brittons Hill United.
Empire opened the scoring in the 26th minute through Ormando McLeod, who converted from close range following a free-kick whipped in from the left wing.
Darien Walcott levelled the scores just before half-time via a corner from Romario Small.
Twenty minutes into the half with the sides still evenly matched, Brittons Hill custodian Shaquille Frank spilled the ball at the feet of Antony Watt, who gleefully put Empire back ahead.
Brittons Hill’s night got progressively worse in the 87th minute when they were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Curtis Odle for two bookable offences.
The victory lifted Empire up to fourth place in Zone 1 as they trail Brittons Hill in third on goal difference.
