Tyrell Gibbons of the BDF Sports Programme having a slight pull on his jersey by Ellerton’s Shaquon Collymore in Sunday’s match-up.
BDFSP, Brittons Hill book berths in Williams Preseason Cup
Either the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme (BDFSP) or Brittons Hill United could be seeing a return to glory in top-flight football in Barbados as both have secured spots in the final of the inaugural Williams Equipment Preseason Cup.
Going after a top prize of $4 000 and the championship trophy in next weekend’s final, Brittons Hill ensured they would be moving forward, 6-3 on aggregate against Abrahams United Silver Sands, while the Sports Programme finished up with a more conservative 3-1 record against Crane and Equipment Ellerton in the second leg of the semi-finals at Weymouth this past Sunday.
The Sports Programme were first to book their berth with a 1-0 win over Ellerton. After winning 2-1 in the first leg of the semis, the door was still open for Ellerton to move into the final, once they could outscore their opponents by two goals. However, that would not be the case and the St. George side quite literally shot themselves in the foot as an own goal from Damien Walcott in the 41st minute did some irreparable damage.
In the night-cap, Silver Sands had the task ahead of them of scoring four unanswered goals to make it into the final and they had an inkling of hope early on. In the 23rd minute, Troy Johnson got a beauty of a ball over on the left flank and sent a stunning left-booted shot, the goal of the night, past a diving Brittons Hill keeper. Just before the half broke, Brittons Hill pulled one back through Denzil Fordyce (42nd).
Brittons Hill took the lead in the 69th when Rohan Hall gave his team the go-ahead from a penalty. Similar fortunes would fall at the feet of Silver Sands in the next few minutes as Johnson easily converted a spot kick at the other end in the 72nd.
Despite pulling out the 2-2 draw, the 4-1 drubbing in the first leg ensured that Silver Sands would not be going to this final in their first year back in the top-tier.
The final is slated for next Sunday at Empire with action kicking off at 6 p.m. with the third-place playoff.