8000 INC. CARLTON are closer to capturing the Barbados Football Association’s women’s title for the fourth year in succession.
They stopped arch-rivals Eve Genesis 3-2 in a critical clash on Sunday night at the National Stadium.
Even before the enforced break in competition, it was looking as if this encounter between three-times queens Carlton and the 2006 winners Genesis would indicate who would wear the crown this year.
Genesis drew first blood, with Kerry Trotman slipping the defence to boot home in the 28th minute.
Carlton’s cause was not helped when Kyshonna Knight had to leave the field with an injury.
Concern was etched on the faces of the Carlton crew when the fleet-footed Shanice Stevenson carried Genesis two-up in the 41st minute with her seventh goal of the season.
Fortunately for Carlton, former Golden Boot winner Kycia Knight answered the call with goals in the 43rd and 47th minutes, bringing her season’s tally to six.
Both teams then threw everthing into attack and several robust challenges resulted in stoppages.
Genesis created several chances but wasted them through wayward shooting, and the speed of Patrina Brathwaite going up the right flank threatened to give Carlton the advantage.
However, that advantage did not come until in the 87th minute when Genesis keeper Savyair Toney played the ball twice in the area, resulting in Carlton being allowed an indirect free kick.
Surprisingly, Carlton were allowed the kick almost in touching distance of the goalkeeper. Knight took the kick, passing the ball to Aaliyah Alleyne who blasted home, with only the netting preventing the rocket from reaching the Netball Stadium.
Alleyne, last season’s top scorer, joined Knight on six goals.
Carlton will finish the first round tomorrow when they play Technique, while Genesis are to meet the National Sports Council.
Earlier, the University of the West Indies and Technique drew 2-2, with Cosette Brathwaite and Tonya Jordan scoring for UWI and Sherece Holder and Valanta King responding for Technique.
Goals from Ashanee Thompson and Kimberley Ellis carried NSC to a 2-0 win over the Barbados Women’s Football Academy. (KB)
