Weymouth Wales secured a decisive 5–2 victory over Notre Dame on Thursday night, advancing comfortably to the semi-finals of the Prime Minister’s Cup.
Playing at the Gall Hill Playing Field in St. John, the Carrington Village giants showed their class from the opening whistle, overwhelming the Division One challengers with pace, and precision.
Flow Man of the Match and Wales defender Andre Applewhaite was the architect of their commanding victory, scoring a brace in the 45+2 and 90+3 minutes, while offering the kind of two-way brilliance that has become synonymous with his name.
Applewhaite’s late strike capped off an impressive display in which Wales also benefitted from goals by defender Nicoli Brathwaite in the fourth minute, and clinical finishes from attacking midfielders Romario Harewood (12th) and Ackeel Applewhaite (21st).
Although Wales stormed to a 3-0 lead early in the first half, Notre Dame briefly wrestled momentum with two rapid goals, Carl Joseph’s stunning 25-yard free kick in the 41st-minute free kick and forward Antone Greaves’ composed strike two minutes later. But any hopes of an upset were short-lived as Wales reasserted their dominance, sealing a confident progression to the final four of the $100,000 semi-professional tournament.
With Wales safely through, the night’s second matchup produced a dramatic contrast, a tense, tactical grind between Paradise FC and Ellerton that required extra time to separate the two. After 90+4 minutes without a breakthrough, it was an unfortunate mishap that decided the contest, as Ellerton captain Shakille Belle inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 113th minute, sending Paradise into a celebratory frenzy and crushing Ellerton’s semifinal ambitions.
Paradise, coached by Mario Harte, were made to sweat for their place in the final four, despite enjoying the better chances in regulation time. Their attacking unit of Khimani Cox, Tyrel Rayside-Demedonca, Mikalai Dziazhko, and talisman Sheran Hoyte created a catalogue of promising opportunities, only to be denied by narrow misses, last-ditch defending, or the alert goalkeeping of Ellerton’s Kerry Holder.
Among the standout performers on the night for the victorious Paradise was Mikalai Dziazhko, whose creativity, distribution, and intelligent movement unsettled Ellerton’s back line. National defender Raquan Clarke also had a stellar shift, marshalling Paradise’s defensive third with composure.
The decisive moment arrived in extra time when Hoyte was tugged back by Ellerton substitute Tyrell Walrond just outside the danger area, prompting a free kick. Substitute Kishmar Ramsey, introduced as extra-time insurance, floated in an inviting delivery that deflected off Belle inside the six-yard box, an agonising twist for the Ellerton skipper.
(AS)
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