A tough challenge ensued as the Semi-Pro Football League [SPFL] continued its second round at the Soufriere Mini Stadium last weekend.The contest sparked off some favourable responses with fans turning out to cheer their respective teams.
Last Saturday, in a Tier I match, Canaries got past the home team Soufriere 1-0. Mc Carther Louis scored in the 37’ to earn full points for his team.
It was a ‘tale of two halves’, with Canaries doing well in the first half, while Soufriere fought back relentlessly in the second half but to no avail. It was a hard-fought game.
The current Blackheart Knockout Football [BKF] champions fancied their chances of giving their fans something to savour, but their west coast neighbours held on stoutly to nose ahead in this SPFL season’s openers.
Earlier in a Tier II game; Vieux Fort South and Anse La Raye played to a 1-1 draw.
Obafani Poyotte scored in the 35’ to give V Fort South the lead, but Anse La Raye hit back as Dahmani Berthier scored the equalizer in the 55’.
In another Tier II game, last Friday, the SPFL challenge exploded into action with Vieux Fort North battling it out against neighbours Micoud. The teams unleashed their attacking prowess from the get-go, and in a thrilling 21st-minute showdown, Vieux Fort North seized the momentum with a sensational goal, to take the lead.
V Fort North went on to beat Micoud 4-0 as they upped the tempo all the way. Dennis Robert put his team ahead in the 21’, before Darlon Johnson scored a brace with goals in the 53’ and 61’, and for Dillon Fanis to round it off in the 62’.
Also, in a Tier I game, last Friday; Laborie played Choiseul to a goalless draw.
Though it is still early days in the contest, the Tier II league appears quite interestingly poised. V Fort South are former ‘4-peat’ BKF champions (2016 to 2019); distinguishing themselves as the only team to accomplish four consecutive championship wins in the popular ‘Off -season Challenge’.
The Tier II league also consists of former BKF champions, in Anse La Raye and Micoud; while teams like Babonneau, Marchand and others will be in the running to make a play for higher rankings.
The SPFL has the makings for a challenging season, with the respective 19 district league affiliates getting to display their prowess at venues across the country in a bid for football glory and rewards.
[R.A].