V Fort North, Gros Islet Are Champs
VIEUX FORT North and Gros Islet emerged as champions of the St. Lucia Football Association Inter -Districts Under – 15 and Royal Club Under – 23 Finals respectively in the finals played at the Phillip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort over the weekend.
On Saturday, Vieux Fort North stunned a confident Soufriere team 2 – 1. VFN opened the scoring in the 4th minute, but the boys from the western town came back strong just before the half time whistle to gain the much deserve equalizer in the 42nd minute.
On the resumption following the half time break both teams stepped up the tempo with a series of goal threatening moves, but it would be Vieux Fort that would have the final say when they got one squeezed past the Soufriere custodian in the 82nd minute of play to seal the deal and lift the 2015 championship trophy to the joy of their many supporters.
For the third place silver ware that was played between neighbours Micoud and Dennery, Micoud had the final say with a 2- 0 win. The goal scores for Micoud, No. 11 MoliceLubrin in the 33rd minute via the penalty route and No. 10 CaniiNervais in the 42nd minute respectively.
It was back to Vieux Fort on Sunday for the Royal Club Under – 23 third place play-off and final. With a crowd of well over 1200 people in attendance and a cold breeze coming in from the Atlantic side, Canaries made light work of Anse La Raye 4 – 1 to win the third place trophy. At the end of the first half Canaries led 2- 0 with goals from Howard Lionel in the 16th minute and Donavan Jn Baptiste in the 36th minute respectively.
The second half of play saw Canaries scoring their third through David Henry in the 55th minute. Anse la Raye quickly replied with one from Gideon Fedee in the 57th minute to cut the deficit, but another soon after from the boots of David Henry of Canaries, second in the encounter in the 86th minute put the issue beyond Anse la Raye’s reach.
Final score 4 – 1.
There was much to play for between Vieux Fort South and GrosIslet, a game that was electrified the moment Gros Islet entered the PMG. The team decked in blue shirt and blue tie looked professional and all set to deliver.
The boys from the north were under tremendous pressure from the first whistle of Referee Gordon Wilson. National Under – 17 player Noah Nicholas opened the scoring in the 12th minute when he received a cross from the northern end of the field to put VFN in the lead; two minutes later Antonius Mayers doubled the score line to start a mini carnival type celebration to the delight of their supporters and that’s how the score would say at the half time whistle.
On the resumption there was no letting off on the pressure by the home team, but Gros Islet fans too had something to cheer about with a Dane Ferdinand goal in the 60th minute. Ten minutes later it was pandemonium when an Eden Charles corner kick in the 70th minute eluded the VFN custodian to equalize and send the game straight into penalties.
It was more drama for both teams during that period, but it would be Gros Islet that nosed ahead with a 3 – 1 win, the Royal Club Trophy, 18 gold medals and EC$5,000.00.
