GOALKEEPERS were kept busy between the uprights as a whopping 33 goals were scored this past weekend of the 3rd Annual Under -14 Gros Islet Football League in collaboration with the Saint Lucia Football Association and Guardsman Saint Lucia Limited kick-off at the Grande Riviere playing field.
On Saturday, 23 goals were scored in three of the four scheduled games, as teams look to make it to the qualifying stage.
Two hat-tricks and a beaver-trick were scored, while FC Pioneers trounced Valley Soccer Academy 7 – 0.
The only disappointment that day was that Monchy FC failed to show up for their encounter against Northern United, to give the latter the win by default plus three goals.
On the pitch, VSADC had to come from behind to defeat FLOW Lancers FC 4-3 in the dying minute of regulation time. Flow Lancers FC dominated the first half of play ending 3-1 in their favour with a hat trick from the boots of Dante Fitz.
On the resumption, VSADC upped the tempo aided by some strange substitutions by Flow Lancers FC, which enabled VSADC to capitalize. Keegan Caul of VSADC went on to score three times in the second half, to add to his one goal in the first half to win the game 4-3.
Defending champions FC Pioneers out-played Valley Soccer Academy 7-0 with two goals by Marlon Nurse, a hat-trick by Ajani Hippolyte, plus one goal apiece for Emmanuel Francis and Shaquan Nelson.
Third-place finishers of last year’s U-14 tournament Big Players played new-comers New Generation out of Babonneau.
Big Players FC was too much to handle despite New Generation opening the scoring in the 15th minute with a goal from Ouri Thomas.
Big Players equalized in the 20th minute of play with a goal from Gillian Clercin, to end the first half 1-1.
On the resumption, Big Players FC shifted into high gear as Adrian Vitalis, with goals in the 27th, 40th and 45th minute of play, went on to score the third hat-trick of the tournament.
Big Players lone female player, Arnicka Louis — one to look forward to at the national level — also came to the party scoring a well-taken long-range goal in the 42nd minute,to the delight of a small crowd of Big Players FC supporters. The final score was 5-1.
On Sunday, New Generation and GMC United played to a 2-2 draw.
For GMC, the goal scorers were Josh George in the 11th and Niam Wilson in the 28th minute. New Generation’s Baggio Edward pulled one back in the 19th minute to make it 1-1, while Rickelme Lionel struck in the 30th minute, securing the much-needed point for his team.
B1 FC out of Marchand defeated Northern United 3-2.
Jahlil Evans found the back of the net twice for Northern United in the 27th and 30th minutes. For B1 FC, Donovan Phillip in the 16th and 30th minute of play,and the winning goal in the 45th minute by Keanu Felicien of B1 FC.
In the final game, Big Player FC went on to make it two wins out of two games, as they defeated one of the tournament’s favourites Valley Soccer 1-0, a goal scored by Keanu Christopher in the 18th minute — that’s how the scoreline remained until regulation time, in spite of several scoring opportunities at either end of the pitch.
Meanwhile, the tournament continues this weekend at the Grand Riviere Playing Field from 9:30 a.m. with another round of matches.