Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme, Paradise, and the University of the West Indies Blackbirds, all scored victories when the Barbados Football Association's Premier League continued last night at the Wildey, St Michael AstroTurf.
There were three out of zone fixtures yesterday and within 15 minutes of the opening match, Paradise had a 2-0 advantage over Porey Spring Football Club. Goals came as early as the 11th and 14th minutes from national attacking midfielder and man of the match Armando 'Suga' Lashley and striker Chai Lloyd respectively.
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Armando ‘Suga’ Lashley (right) scored a brace for Paradise. Here he puts pressure on Empire’s defence.[/caption]
The men from Dover were unstoppable on the attack and it resulted in another goal in the 56th minute of the second half when a combination of passes found midfielder Elijah Downey inside the 18-yard box for his second assist of the game to Lashley for the kill.
The result should have been 4-0 when Chai Lloyd went probing yet again and was brought down inside the danger zone off a tag team effort by Porey Spring's custodian Ryan Hope and defender Marc Alleyne who were both found guilty by referee Troy Thorpe.
Lloyd stepped up to the 12-yard spot in search of his second goal but was brilliantly denied thanks to a low diving save by Hope. What was surprising is that Lloyd opted to take the penalty himself instead of giving Lashley the opportunity to secure what could have been his second hat-trick of the season having scored the first in that 6-0 triumphant against Silver Sands last month.
Currently the second-best team in zone one on 26 points behind defending champions Weymouth Wales, Paradise were also victorious 2-1 over Clayton's Kola Tonic Notre Dame last week Thursday and returned yesterday to do the same to Porey Springs who are clearly having a difficult time playing in the top league.
In fact, the St Thomas-based Porey Spring have failed to register a win so far and have only managed to score six points off six draws while losing seven of their 13 encounters. Porey Spring will need to do all in their power to ensure they stay ahead of Home Improvement Compton who are two points behind on four having failed to win a single game along with Rendezvous who are on their way to being relegated from top-flight football.
Zone two leaders and former three-time kings BDFSP continue to dominate that zone with a 35-point tally ahead of UWI in second place on 24 points and Ellerton Football Club, the only other team in double-digit on 20.
It was the BDFSP show starring national attacking midfielder Omani Leacock and Kyle Gibson with a hat-trick each, as they defeated Notre Dame 6-0
Both Leacock and Gibson once played for Notre Dame and last night both men took turns feasting off their former team-mates. Gibson got the ball rolling 19 minutes into the nightcap exchange and accounted for two others in the 40th and 63rd minute. Meanwhile, Leacock who featured in the international friendly against Belize had his moments of glory in the 23rd, 47th and 52nd minutes.
In the earlier game, UWI went ahead 1-0 compliments a goal from Grenadian national Shamari Mark in the 53rd minute after a goalless period against Empire in the opening half. Just when captain Mario Harte and coach Fabian Massiah looked as though they were about to settle for that score with four minutes of extra time left to play, midfielder Jomo Harris after an initial missed attempt, was able to nail it on the second opportunity in the 91st minute with a low strike to the left of Empire goalkeeper Christopher Wilson.
All was not lost for Empire, as their dependable ace marksman Jabarry 'Papi' Chandler with seconds left to play managed to nail an excellently strategized free-kick opportunity on the stroke of game time to make it 2-1.
morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb
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