East Kingstown, South Leeward take over

There was a changing of the guard after three uninterrupted years, as East Kingstown and South Leeward overthrew Barrouallie and took hold of the Under-17 and senior men’s titles of the National Inter Community Football Championships respectively.{{more}}

The two were installed as champions last Thursday, when the finals were hosted at the Victoria Park. First up, East Kingstown and South Leeward served up a goal filled encounter which required extra time and kicks from the penalty spot, to determine the Under-17 winner.

Jamal Bishop put South Leeward ahead as early as the 4th minute, but Jante James levelled the scores in the 8th minute, making good of a lapse in the South Leeward’s defence.

James doubled his tally in the 11th minute, again with the South Leeward back four questioning their marking.

Parity was restored in the 24th minute when Carlos Solomon registered South Leeward’s second goal, to go to the half 2-2.

Soon after the resumption, Cordell Franklyn poked the ball over the line to make it 3-2 in favour of East Kingstown in the 44th minute.

Bishop was at the end of his second header of the match to make it 3-3 in the 59th minute. The battle then intensified and except for some near misses by both teams, neither one dominated for the rest of regulation time, which sent the match into extra period.

A superbly taken strike after a positive build-up by Bishop in the 4th minute extra time was the goal of the match.

But Kewon Clarke responded likewise in the 2nd minute of the second period of extra time, also with a well constructed and finished item.

It then needed kicks from the penalty spot to declare the new holders. East Kingstown came away trumps 3-2.

Barrouallie held the Under-17 title in 2012 and 2013 and when last year it was an Under-18 affair, also copped the winner’s trophy.

GECCU Calliaqua beat North Leeward the previous day 2-1, to earn the third place.

South Leeward overcome the bogey

But South Leeward made amends in the senior division when they came face to face with the National Lotteries Authority Central Kingstown.

Built up as the decider in the series, as both teams had previously won an encounter, expectations were high for a thrilling match-up.

An early goal from Nazir Mc Burnette for South Leeward gave hope that the match would live up to the billing. However, that was not to be, as the large crowd which turned up was not given the filling of a match befitting a final.

Anthony John bundled a header past Central Kingstown’s goal keeper – Javon Lynch in the 38th minute to gave South Leeward a 2-0 margin going into the half.

Neither team however did themselves justice as they were indecisive in the attacking third.

Central Kingstown’s captain – Azhino Solomon preferred theatrics to playing proper football, while South Leeward’s makeshift striker – Jarrel Mc Master wasted a couple opportunities on the offer as his team chose the through pass as their main line of attack.

Dwayne Dennie reduced the deficit for Central Kingstown in the 64th minute, with an in swinging right foot free kick, which eluded South Leeward’s defence and custodian – Sylvannus Baptiste.

It was South Leeward who had the last laugh at the sound of referee’s Moeth Gaymes whistle at 10:55 p.m., as they made Central Kingstown’s coach Carlton Dennie eat his words.

Dennie had boasted that his team would have handed South Leeward a heavy defeat – a prediction of a six or seven goal margin.

Taking the third place was GECCU Calliaqua who ended a productive 2015 competition, beating East Kingstown 5-3 on kicks from the penalty spot after both teams finished 1-1 in normal time and extra time.

Anthony John bundled a header past Central Kingstown’s goalkeeper Javon Lynch in the 38th minute to gave South Leeward a 2-0 margin going into the half.

Neither team, however, did themselves justice as they were indecisive in the attacking third.

Central Kingstown’s captain Azhino Solomon preferred theatrics to playing proper football, while South Leeward’s makeshift striker Jarrel Mc Master wasted a couple opportunities on the offer, as his team chose the through pass as their main line of attack.

Dwayne Dennie reduced the deficit for Central Kingstown in the 64th minute, with an in swinging right foot free kick, which eluded South Leeward’s defence and custodian Sylvannus Baptiste.

It was South Leeward who had the last laugh at the sound of referee Moeth Gaymes’ whistle at 10:55 p.m., as they made Central Kingstown’s coach Carlton Dennie eat his words.

Dennie had boasted that his team would have handed South Leeward a heavy defeat – a prediction of a six or seven-goal margin.

Taking the third place was GECCU Calliaqua, who ended a productive 2015 competition, beating East Kingstown 5-3 on kicks from the penalty spot after both teams finished 1-1 in normal time and extra time.