‘Two bad!’ The National Sports Council gave up their clear lead in the standings when they went down by two goals to the University of the West Indies.
Kadesha Mayers of Kick Start (left) holding Mavericks’ Shakira Farrell off the ball during their one-all draw on Sunday night.
UWI level up with NSC
THE doors have been blasted wide open for the University of the West Indies (UWI) to possibly take their second title in the Barbados Football Association Women’s League. That is because the 2015 winners got the better of defending champions, the National Sports Council (NSC), in a top-of-the-table clash this past weekend.
Playing at the Bagatelle ground on Sunday night in the final game, the UWI ladies drew level with the Sports Council on 21 points as they repaid them for a 1-0 loss in the first round with a 2-0 result this time around.
With a point to prove and the prospect of a second title hovering just ahead of them, UWI came out swinging and pushed hard for every opportunity at goal. They got a break early on as they were awarded a penalty in the seventh minute of the game. Rianna Cyrus stepped to the plate and made no mistake with the shot, beating national team custodian Rhea Holder to her left.
For the remainder of the first half and most of the second, NSC fought hard to level things, coming close several times but failing to finish due to wastage of the chance or denial from an in-form Cadijah Mars. In the 84th minute, Gabriella Lopez showed just what she was made of after weathering a blow to the face, which dislodged a tooth and a nasty tackle. Full of heart, she made a run for the goal to take on Holder in the 84th minute. Holder was barely able to keep the ball from going over the line, but Ashleigh Ann Dussard was there to
ensure the lead was extended to two and solidify the win.
The other win on the day went to Eden Stars Football Club Unity Stars as they whipped Technique to walk off with three points from an 8-0 result. Nicole Parris opened the scoring in the first game of the evening in the second minute, while Marissa King got the first two goals of her hat-trick in the 10th and 28th minutes to close out the first half.
At the top of the second half, Tia Briggs-Thompson got things going again in the 46th minute before Britnee Stanford added a fifth goal. Nashandi Clarke joined the goal-party in the 61st minute, but made her presence felt as she scored a second just seven minutes after. King closed out her performance in the 71st to bring up the team’s total.
The middle game saw Mavericks and Kick Start Genesis breaking even with a goal each. Felicia Jarvis (45th) closed out the first half by putting Mavericks ahead. However, Shonian Smith found the equaliser in the 50th minute.