Laborie – Champions of SLFA Super Cup

Laborie got past Choiseul in a tightly fought final to grab hold of the Saint Lucia Football Association Inc. Island Cup Super League Title, at the Soufriere Mini-Stadium, Sunday.

After an enthralling ‘see-saw’ battle between the two southerly-west neighbours, Laborie nosed ahead with a late goal to emerge victorious by a 1-nil margin.

In a clash dubbed the ‘mini southerly-west’ derby, a supportive crowd of fans and spectators were treated to an exhilarating display of offensive play and robust defending.

Having missed out on two occasions from scoring, as the ball was cleared off the line, Laborie kept pushing for that icebreaker. Choiseul hit back and sometimes looked dangerous on the counter attack, but Laborie likewise fended off the attacks.

It was Simeon Alexander’s crisp shot in the 80th minute of the game that finally made the difference. With a 10-man Choiseul team battling in the latter stages to balance out the game after a player was sent off, Laborie seized the advantage to slot in a blistering goal from a well- coordinated team build up, utilizing the flanks to cut into the box for Alexander to unleash a cracking shot into the nets.

Laborie coach Daniel Cassius spoke about his team coming into the game with “high expectations” as they sort to gain revenge over Choiseul, who had beaten them previously in the preliminary rounds.

“The first game we played against them they defeated us. So we came there feeling that …if we continued to fight back after the defeat we would breathe through it,” Cassius said:

Acknowledging the strength of the teams’ bench to add more energy into the game, he added, “Bringing in the substitutes, I felt that we brought in more pace in the game and that caused their (Choiseul) downfall.”

At the post match-presentation

Most Goals Scored – Darrell Francis (Choiseul) – 12 goals.

Anse La Raye won by default over Babonneau to win the Third Place Play Offs; since the latter team showed up one hour after the scheduled Kick Off time.

Meanwhile, matches continued in the SLFA’s Inc. Zonal Boys Under-17 competition at the Technical Centre in Grande Riviere, Dennery.

Piton Travel Young Stars were runaway winners with a 7 – nil drubbing over Diamond Ballers. Goal scorers were Eitan Andrew with a 13th and 21st minute brace, while Hergan Harper 3rd, Stephan Ermay 25th, Lasell Ferguson 35th, Jarold Henry 52nd and Barry in the 54th minutes also netted.

Black Panthers enjoyed a comfortable 6 – 0 victory over Uptown Rebels. They were led by Eymani Butcher with a hat trick in the 29th, 57th, and 81st minutes, Inanco Sylvester 7th, Maniche Pierre Louis 43rd and Curt Calixte 90th minutes.

New Generation won by default over Ti Rocher, while 1987 All Stars also earned a default win over Bays FC.