Brittons Hill survived an early scare before recovering well to defeat St Andrew Lions 4-1 as Barbados Football Association Premier League action continued at the Wildey Technical Centre on Tuesday.
Last season’s runners-up were stunned in the eighth minute when Thierry Bradshaw capped off a slick series of passes with a clinical finish between the legs of goalkeeper Shaquille Frank to put St Andrew Lions ahead.
However, an own goal levelled the scores in the 20th minute and Lions’ misery was compounded two minutes later when schoolboy Zayvion Welch showed good composure under defensive pressure to slot the ball home and give Brittons Hill a 2-1 lead.
Things went from bad to worse for Lions in the 30th minute after a major defense lapse allowed veteran attacker Ray Snagg to slot home unchallenged at the near post, with a late penalty from Kirtney Franklin in the 85th minute adding some more gloss to the scoreline.
With the victory Brittons Hill moved up to 29 points, four points behind second-placed Paradise with three rounds of matches remaining and five points behind leaders and defending champions Weymouth Wales.
Meanwhile, Lions look increasingly likely to be relegated along with bottom-of-the-table Wotton.
Wotton are already statistically unable to avoid demotion on four points, but Lions are second from bottom on seven points, six adrift of UWI Blackbirds, who barring an unlikely sequence of results in their final three games should be safe from the drop.
Speaking after the game, Brittons HIll coach Richard Forde said his side ultimately bounced back well after a slow start.
“As the game progressed we started to find our rhythm, but we still need to maintain our discipline and recognize that every time we win possession is not always that chance to charge forward.
“At times we need to retain possession and gather momentum before we advance forward. We also need to maintain that defensive discipline which we lack and I believe that comes about because we have lots of attacking threats which can also make you as a team vulnerable,” Forde said.
With another top three finish possible this season, Forde remains optimistic.
“We have three more games remaining and we will continue to take to the field with confidence and look to close out the season on a high,” he said.
In the night’s second game, Kickstart Rush continued their push for a top three finish with a 1-0 victory over Bagatelle. Nathan Skeete’s spectacular 51st minute free kick from 20 yards out on the left hand side was the only goal of the encounter.
The result saw Kickstart Rush leapfrog Ellerton who are on 25 points, to fourth on 27 points. Bagatelle, who were promoted from Division One last season, remain seventh on 15 points after a tough debut season.
Three key matches are scheduled to be played at the BFA Technical Centre on Sunday.
Wales will come up against Kickstart Rush in a crucial match in the nightcap game at 8 p.m., needing a win to maintain their slender lead at the top of the table.
The evening’s second game at 6 p.m. will see an all-important clash between Paradise and Brittons Hill, with both sides needing a win to remain in the title hunt.
In the opener at 4 p.m., UWI Blackbirds and Bagatelle will be going all out for a win that would give them breathing space at the bottom of the table.
(KH)
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