After fifty two games and over three months of exciting football, First Touch / Pioneers emerged champions of the inaugural St. Lucia Football Association – Gros Islet Football League in collaboration with the tournament main sponsor Guardsman St.Lucia last Sunday at the Grand Riviere playing field.
The finals featured GMC United under head coach Chris Monrose and First Touch/Pioneers coached by Adrian Vaudroque, the two teams looked evenly poised with both showing that they were all set to hoist the inaugural trophy.
From the very first whistle GMC United came out firing on all cylinders pushing for an early goal, but First Touch’s defense was locked down by two key players, Joshua Boland playing in a central back position and Marcellus Belmar in goal. Despite GMC’s aggressiveness First Touch/Pioneers had more ball possession and got paid with a free kick in a dangerous position. Boland took charge of this set piece and with poor wall setting by GMC, slammed the ball to the back of the net in the 8th minute ending the first half 1 – 0.
On the resumption both teams stepped up the tempo and in the process squandered a few scoring chances, but that’s how the score line remained up until the final whistle 1 – 0 in favour of First Touch Pioneers.
In the third place play- off dubbed a “Marchand derby” featuring B1 Juniors and Big Players, both teams showed very good discipline in defending with few chances in attacking as the score line remained goalless after regulation time.
In the penalty shootout B1 Juniors won 3 – 2.
Following the showpiece a number of awards were presented: Tournament MVP – Joshua Boland – First Touch/Pioneers; Most Goals – Donavan Phillip – B1 Juniors, Most Outstanding Striker – Donovan Phillip – B1 Juniors, Most Outstanding Defender – Joshua Boland – First Touch/Pioneers; Most Outstanding Midfielder – NaseValcin – Big Players and Most Outstanding Goal Keeper – Marcellous Belmar – First Touch/Pioneers.
The third place trophy and bronze medal – B1 Juniors, second place trophy and silver medals GMC, while the championship trophy and goal medals went to First Touch / Pioneers.