Sports

Platinum FC Scores ‘Three-peat’ to Retain Div. I Championship Title

By Reginald Andrew

Platinum FC recorded a ‘three-peat’ as they beat Monchy FC 2-nil in a decider match, last weekend, to determine the winner of the 2020-21 SLFA Premier League Championship.

The southern-based team stamped their authority on the game to earn their third successive St Lucia Football Association [SLFA] Div. I Championship title.

PFC celebrates their Div. I win.
PFC celebrates their Div. I win.

High noon drama unfolded at the Phillip Marcellin Grounds [PMG], last Saturday, with Platinum FC taking on Monchy FC in a final league game for the championship title race. With limited spectator participation due to COVID-19 protocol requirements, it was nonetheless an enthralling encounter cheered on by the fans who turned out to support.

PFC was the more aggressive of the two teams and proved their dominance with a goal on either side of the half.

Prolific striker Antonio Joseph scored a brace to lift PFC’s spirits and from early on they pushed for the advantage. PFC was rewarded with a 4th minute goal as Joseph headed in clinically from inside the box.

PFC’s prolific striker Antonio Joseph gets one past MFC goalkeeper.
PFC’s prolific striker Antonio Joseph gets one past MFC goalkeeper.

PFC sealed victory with a second goal into the 80th minute as the action grew more intense heading into the final 15 minutes.

PFC’s right winger Ridel Stanislas was pivotal in the offense and many times stretched the Monchy defense to create openings for his team mates.

Monchy FC’s opening burst was cut short as PFC got the lead, and it was left to the wily experience of national defender and MFC captain Otev Lawrence to stem the flow in an attempt to ward off a rampaging PFC unit.

PFC captain Gregson President skillfully maneuvered the mid-field play that kept his team on the hunt for goal scoring opportunities, while pressing high up in the offense.

Platinum FC captain Gregson President (L) holding the Chmpionship trophy.
Platinum FC captain Gregson President (L) holding the Chmpionship trophy.

Monchy FC pulled off its best run into the first half hour of the second half;  and when Tev Lawrence hit the cross bar with a scorching shot from just outside the box the northern-based lads appeared to have stepped up their momentum in the game.

But PFC looked the more desperate and would not relinquish their hold on the game as they continued to make some sharp runs and defended stoutly into the final lap, to secure victory.

At the post-match presentation, in the SLFA / Scotts Sports and Awards Premier Division Championship under the theme: Lets Kick COVID Out, the individual award winners were as follows –

Sherwin Simon of Northern United – the leading goal scorer with seven  goals, followed by Sherman Augustin of GMC United and Gregson President of Platinum FC with five goals each.

Platinum FC ended the Championship with a tally of 23 pts.; while runners-up Monchy FC finished on 19 pts. , and Northern United in third spot with 15 pts.

SLFA’s Lyndon Cooper presents cheque to runners-up Monchy FC Skipper Otev Lawrence.
SLFA’s Lyndon Cooper presents cheque to runners-up Monchy FC Skipper Otev Lawrence.

While declaring that this latter victory was “history in the making”, during a post –match link up, President said that his team kept their composure as they had done in the regular season and were well prepared for that final encounter.

He acknowledged the prowess and tenacity of his strikers, stating that it was an ‘all out’ team effort that had them to rally together for the ‘big game’.

Speaking to the early lead that propelled PFC to sustain the bulk of offensive play, President declared: “The sun was very hot, so the team that got the first goal it was better for them.”

On his team’s ‘three-peat’ achievement, the PFC captain said, “It’s a good record, first time being done in St Lucia (Div. I Championships). We have a younger team now and we started the first game in the regular season with a 2-1 victory, and from there we started moving on game by game.”

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