Sports Programme and Wales to square off in Game 2 today
Two-time defending champions, Weymouth Wales and the many-time winners, Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme will be letting it all hang out today as they will be both looking to draw first blood in the Barbados Premier League Championship playoff. After breaking even in Game 1 of a two best of three series, all will be on the line in Game 2. Playing on Thursday night at the Wildey Turf, the teams parted ways as equals with a 2-2 result not too long after splitting points in a goalless draw in the soldiers’ last game of the regular season.
In Thursday’s night-cap game, the soldiers were first off the mark after Rashad Smith got a good cross inside the box, which he made no mistakes putting away with a powerful right-foot shot in the 8th minute of the game. However, Wales were not too far behind and bounced back in the 15th. With Romario Harewood taking a corner kick from the right side, the ball got over five defenders in the box before reaching the head of Arantees Lawrence. Getting up above everyone, Lawrence put the ball in the corner at back-post.
Wales went ahead in the 33rd when former national team captain, Rashida Williams, got the ball just outside the box and hit it along the ground to see his team into the break with a lead. With a few more bites at the cherry going to Wales, Smith knocked home the equaliser in the 80th.
In the other game on the night, Youth Milan were sent tumbling out of the Premier League after going down 2-1 to Mark’s Auto Spares Porey Spring in the first relegation play-off. Youth Milan set themselves up for a chance at remaining in the top flight when Jaleel Corbin got his head on a loose ball in the box in the 43rd minute.
After working as hard as they did to gain the lead, a horrible defensive blunder put Porey Spring back in contention. With a ball coming into the Milan defensive third, Jason Gilkes headed the ball back but his keeper was off the line and in no position to collect, giving Porey Spring the equaliser in the 64th minute. Porey Spring continued to knock at the door, but time after time they were thwarted by custodian Richard Corbin, who put down save after lovely save.
At the end of regulation time, neither side was ahead and the game went into extra time. In the 114th, Najee Holder muscled his way past a defender to put a heavy head on the ball from a set-play and ensure his team another chance at staying in the top flight.
Today’s action kicks off at 4 p.m. at the Wildey Turf with Scotty’s Car Rentals St. Andrew Lions and RBC Capital Markets Barbados Soccer Academy crossing swords in a relegation play-off. The winner will face Porey Spring while the loser heads back to Division 1.
Game 2 at 6 p.m. is a third-place play-off between the University of the West Indies Blackbirds and Empire Club. The night-cap at 8 p.m. will feature the Sports Programme and Wales in their second match.