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Shaine Hermas of Ellerton and Ramon Manning of Paradise fighting for this ball in Saturday’s night-cap.

Paradise take thriller in final minutes

jumping right-foot volley from Dario ‘Ears’ Harewood in the 90th minute gave Paradise just what they needed to give them three points and their second out-of-zone win as the Barbados Football Association Premier League raged on this weekend. Playing at the Wildey Turf on Saturday night, Paradise came from behind to take a 2-1 thriller from Crane and Equipment Ellerton in the night-cap game.

Paradise stated their intentions early on as they had a goal in the back of the nets inside the very first minute of the game, but the Armando Lashley stroke was disallowed for an offside call. Ellerton struck back just two minutes after as captain Damien Walcott was in prime position to put away a pinpoint cross from Zico Mascoll on the left flank. The tall and imposing Walcott simply moved himself into space at the far post to put an unmarked header past Paradise keeper Jason Boxill.

The remainder of the first half saw Paradise frustrated as all of their attempts were thwarted as the Ellerton custodian Jamar Brewster had a good game, denying chance after chance. Holding the lead played to Ellerton’s advantage as they looked a stronger team than they have looked for most of the season.

In the second, things remained heated as both teams tried their best to find the nets. With nine yellow cards handed out in the game, eight in the second half alone, the urgency with which the teams played was evident. With both sides needing a win as Paradise were in fourth place in Zone 1 on ten points and Ellerton looking to move up from third on seven in Zone 2, the passion with which they played was justified.Paradise were able to draw level in the 70th through Ackeel Applewhaite, just after he was booked for one of the many yellow cards. Getting a clean ball from Elijah Downey in the middle, Applewhaite, who went on to take the Player of the Match award, moved in a bit from the left flank and almost put his left boot through the ball to beat the previously impervious Brewster at the far post.

With the teams now on even terms, the tensions rose even more and in the 87th, Walcott was given a straight red for an infraction about 22 yards outside the goal on the right side. The resulting kick was sent in by Mario Williams to a fresh Harewood, who had only come in five minutes prior. Standing almost unmarked at the far post, the lanky Harewood just jumped up and raised his leg to guide the ball into the back of the nets to seal the deal.

The opening game saw the troubled Empire Club being fed another dose of despair as they went down 4-1 to Zone 2 leaders Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme. The soldiers were off to a hot start as Rashad Jules got the ball rolling in the tenth minute. The remainder of the game was the Omani Leacock show as the eventual Player of the Match was good for a hat-trick with goals in the 41st, 49th and 84th minutes. Empire got their consolation from the boot of Omando McLeod.

Brittons Hill United got a win for themselves to hang on to third in Zone 1 behind Paradise. Going up against Home Improvement Hardware Compton in the 7 p.m. game, a goal on either side of the break gave them a 2-0 victory. Donte Greenidge was first to find the nets in the 37th minute while Romario Small added the second in the 58th.

The league continues today at the Wildey Turf with two games. Rendezvous FC take on Zone 1 leaders and defending champions Weymouth Wales at 7 p.m. At 9 p.m., Abrahams United Silver Sands and Mark’s Auto Spares Porey Spring cross swords as they both look to better their situations.

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