Gros Islet beat tournament favourites La Clery 3-1 in a clinical display to emerge champions of the SLFA Inc. Island Cup Premier League, in the finals, at the Soufriere Mini-Stadium, Sunday.
La Clery, the front- runners had gone past Gros Islet twice in the competition, but on the day that it all mattered the northern-based team took all the glory with a dominant performance.
Gros Islet prolific striker Troy Greenidge hit a brace with two early strikes and Aaron Richard closed it off, as La Clery attempted to catch up with a goal soon after the resumption. But with a lead over their opponents, Gros Islet never let them back into the game and went on to seal a hard-fought victory.
Though La Clery showed early glimpses of their offensive skills with some hard runs down the flanks, however, it was Gros Islet that drew ‘first blood’; as Greenidge shot from the spot in the 21st minute. In the crux of play, La Clery’s costly defense blunder gifted Greenidge his second goal in the 35th min.
After the interval, La Clery appeared to be on the rebound as Rayham Cooper converted in the 47th min., from some good inter-passing to slot in.
But their efforts were soon shattered, when Richard collected a through pass in the box and easily netted into an empty goal in the 48th min.
These costly defense blunders opened up the La Clery defense, making it harder for the city-suburb lads to balance off the game.
Greenidge, the Gros Islet team captain said they worked hard for the victory, since they lost out in the semis last year and “It is always a pleasure to win a finals”.
Commenting on his conquest by leading with a brace, he declared: “Troy is not just a footballer, he is a goal-scorer.”
Greenidge said the La Clery team put on a good fight, but “we got into this game early …and from there we took it all the way, soon as we scored the first goal.”
In the Third Place Play Off, Dennery got past Canaries 2 – nil, despite their opponents puttying on a tough challenge. Elijah Joseph converted in the 1st min of added on time in the first half and Newton Marshall in the 56th min.
At the post-match presentation awards –
Most Goals Scored: Troy Greenidge (14 goals).
Meanwhile, in an effort to help identify available talent at the national level for the upcoming Youth Championships, the SLFA Inc. have organized trials for Girls Under-14 at its Technical Centre in the Mabouya Valley, Dennery.
According to an SLFA Inc. official, the trials are due for Saturday (February, 25) during which the coaches will undertake to identify the players who are suitable for selection to undergo further/advanced training. The girls must not be born before 1st January 2009.
The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) is due to hold another Challenge Series of Championships, this year. The annual championships are held for boys and girls at the Under 14 Level.
While each member league is responsible for providing transportation and light refreshments for its girls on the day, the SLFA has committed to contribute towards these expenses later.
[R.A].