Shottas good for three in Guardian Group Youth tourney

Pro Shottas took home the lion’s share of hardware yesterday after chasing five titles in the 2017 edition of the Barbados Football Association’s Guardian Group Youth Football Tournament. After booking berths in each of the finals in last weekend’s semifinals, Pro Shottas did not do to badly, taking three of the five divisions in keenly-contested games at the Wildey Astro Turf.

Pro Shottas United got the day off to a hot start with the Under-9 championship, beating West Coast Youth Spurs two goals to nil. With the little ones playing 15 minutes a half, Ethan Rollock set up Pro Shottas early on with a goal in the 6th minute. In the second half Asher Lashley made it two in the 18th to secure the win.

Pro Shottas were held to their first loss on the day when they came up against KFC Pinelands Youth Academy in the Under-11 final. Pinelands doubled up on a 2017 Barbados Cup win by putting three past the Shottas, compared to their single consolation. Kiko Wade wasted no time in putting Pinelands on with a goal in the 3rd minute. However, Pro Shottas had things level once again in the 6th. Pinelands captain Kamaal Bryan, or Ben 10 as he is better known, found the equality overrated and converted two solid left-booted free-kicks in the 25th and 39th to take the title home for Pinelands after they finished third last year.

It was almost too easy for Pro Shottas as they faced what appeared to be an either intimidated or uninspired National Sports Council Blenheim Ballers in the Under-13 final. Three unanswered goals gave Pro Shottas their second win of the day as Aaron Cumberbatch (16th minute), Marcus Whittington (26th minute) and Nadre Butcher (53rd minute) all pitched in for the victory.

Pro Shottas Spurs came from behind in glorious fashion to take the Under-15 final from Mavericks Fire after neither team was able to score by the end the first half. Mavericks waited till the 43rd minute before Raequon Jones found the back of the nets. However, Pro Shottas enjoyed the majority of opportunities at goal and finally began making good on them. Tajio James got his in the 66th to tie things up while Tanas Thorne got the go-ahead in the 73rd. Thierry Gale, who was instrumental in creating most of the chances for the Shottas throughout, got his goal in the 85th to shut things off.

Pro Shottas were hoping to close the day off with a fourth win but that was not to be as Pride of Gall Hill would edge them out with a spectacular comeback in the Under-17 final. The Shottas were off the mark first with goals from Noah Padmore in the 6th and Dishon Howell in the 18th. However, things came together for the Gall Hill side as Justin Rollins pulled one back in the 20th and Mikkael Grant leveled the scale in the 40th. Shaquon Welch came through for his team with the game-winner to keep Pro Shottas out in the cold.