Neighbourhood Care Pharmacy Weymouth Wales maintained their supremacy in the Barbados Football Association’s Premier League with a hard-fought 4-2 comeback win over Claytons Kola Tonic Notre Dame at the Wildey AstroTurf on Sunday night.
Mark’s Auto Spares Porey Springs settled for their fourth draw in a row against the University of the West Indies (UWI) Blackbirds and Paradise ended their recent slump with a 2-0 win over Empire.
In the night’s latter kick-off featuring first and second in Zone 1, it was second-placed Notre Dame who opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark through Zeco Edmee’s powerful header.
A prolonged period of pressure ensued and it soon paid off handsomely for the champions when Hadan Holligan was tripped in the penalty area by Dames youngster Andre Applewaithe, who was subsequently booked by referee Mark Moses. Romario Harewood planted the ensuing penalty past goalkeeper Shakib Kellman to lock the scores at one apiece going into the half-time interval.
Shortly after the restart, Wales took the lead through forward Arantees Lawrence who nodded in a teasing cross by Holligan from close range. Last Tuesday’s hat-trick hero Antoine Greaves dragged his team back into the contest in the 67th minute with a classy finish past Wales’ Omari Eastmond, getting on the end of a neat through ball by Azarel Croney.
Holligan and Lawrence were up to their old tricks again, combining well for the latter to head in from close range in almost identical fashion to his first goal to give Wales the 3-2 lead in the 80th minute.
In the 83rd minute, Rashida Williams’ long pass to the right flank deflected off the head of Rivaldo Graham and landed invitingly at the feet of substitute Kemar Headley, who finished with style for an emphatic victory.
The 6 p.m. match-up featured two teams still in the hunt for their first wins of the season.
UWI took the lead in the 11th minute through Jamario Worrell, who capitalised on a defensive error at the back by Porey Springs to give his team a crucial lead. He then had the opportunity to double that lead from the penalty spot and even though his initial kick scored, referee Jamar Springer asked that the spot kick be retaken, and Worrell skied his second kick high into the air, much to the relief of goalkeeper Anthony Rollins.
The teams went in at the break with UWI holding a slender 1-0 lead, but complacency at the back cost the University lads as Porey Springs equalised through captain Shaquille Stewart who squeezed one in past goalkeeper Bentley Springer.
In the 71st minute, UWI restored their advantage in fortunate circumstances when Renaldo Hunte’s clearance sliced off a boot and nestled in the far corner of his own goal.
Porey Springs showed great character to equalise for the second time. Stewart turned provider this time for Raymond Hope to turn the ball in from a few yards out to grab an unlikely draw, and leave UWI frustrated for another week.
In the 4 p.m. kick-off, Paradise made amends for consecutive 3-0 losses at the hands of Brittons Hill and Wales with a 2-0 defeat of Empire. Goals from Dario Harewood and Armando Lashley ensured the win against an Empire side that finished the game with ten men following the dismissal of Omar Primus. (NM)
