Defending champions Weymouth Wales defeated Paradise 1-0 in a top of the table encounter to take a one point lead at the top of the Barbados Football Association’s Premier League.
Playing at the Wildey Technical Centre on Sunday in what was expected to be one of the games of the season, both teams started cautiously given the importance of the encounter.
After a brisk exchange of passes in rainy conditions, former national captain Rashad Jules burst down the left hand flank for Wales before hitting a swerving shot between the legs of Paradise goal keeper Jireh Malcom in the eighth minute.
Having taken the lead, Wales enjoyed the majority of the possession and created several attacking opportunities, which Paradise managed to fend off.
Wales were also indebted to goalie Kishmar Primus, who denied Paradise’s danger man Sheran Hoyte.
Having weathered the early storm, Paradise began to look more confident as the half time break drew closer, but with Primus in good form Wales were largely untroubled.
Just after the half time break, Paradise were forced into a double change due to injuries to veteran defender Mario Williams and striker Keon Atkins.
Shortly afterwards, Primus completed one of the saves of the season to deny a good strike from Paradise attacker Kamol Griffith.
A key moment came in the 75th minute when Wales defender Romario Small was shown a straight red card following a challenge on Sheran Hoyte just outside the box.
Paradise failed to make the most of the resulting free kick and despite their numerical disadvantage and thanks to another superb late save by Primus, Wales secured the three points, to displace long time leaders Paradise at the top of the table.
Wales’ assistant coach. Andrew John told Barbados TODAY his team was forced to dig deep for the victory.
“Obviously Paradise came with a point to prove and we also know we had to win the game, so we’re happy with the three points. It was a bit tougher than we expected in terms of the physicality of the game and we had a couple of players go out with hamstring and shoulder injuries, but we pulled through in the end,” John said.
Wales have been inconsistent at various stages of the season, but John said they had worked hard to rectify those issues during practice sessions.
“During practice during the week our focus was on making a quick start and the guys did the exact job today.
“Our goal for the remainder of the season is to obviously win all the games and retain the title. To be champions you have to defeat everyone and we are very focused on the task at hand,” John said.
The victory saw Wales move into the top spot on 28 points, with Paradise second on 27 points. The victory was of added significance, after two more title contenders dropped points during the evening.
In the opening game, fourth placed Kickstart Rush had the opportunity to move into second and temporarily bump Wales down to third, but they were held to a 1-1 draw by UWI Blackbirds.
After being upset 1-0 by Wotton in their last game, Kickstart came into the game looking to keep pace with the top three teams, but floundered against a UWI team that has been inconsistent all season, amid a major rebuild of the squad.
Tidre Arthur handed Blackbirds the lead in the 18th minute, before Romario Drakes replied for Kickstart just two minutes later. There were no more goals in the encounter and afterwards Kickstart coach Renaldo Gilkes noted that while they were pushing for a win, his team was still grateful to at least salvage a point.
“I believe that we had the opportunities that we could have
definitely grabbed all three points there. Nevertheless, credit to UWI. They
obviously turned up with a game plan and they offered us some resistance. In the first half, I believe we really threw it away by not converting those opportunities that were presented to us,” Gilkes said.
Despite the result, he believes his team remains on target for a top three finish in the league.
“Yeah, I think we are still within our objectives. I remember speaking to you at the beginning of the season and I said the top three finish would be ideal, considering where we are with reference to players going and coming, the caliber of the other clubs and so on, so I think we’re still within earshot,” Gilkes said.
“We want to continue to compete with the title contenders, but I think that we’re in a good place and we will definitely put up a fight, not just for the team in itself, but in the club in its entirety.”
With the result, Kickstart remained in fourth position on 24 points, with UWI still seventh on 13.
The nightcap encounter between Ellerton and Eyre’s Meatshop Pride of Gall Hill was a rollercoaster affair that burst to life in the second half, following a goalless first half.
Gall Hill protested bitterly after a free kick from Ellerton was taken before they believed the referee had restarted the game following a stoppage. The resulting goal from captain Shakille Belle, gave the St George-based side a 1-0 lead in the 60th minute.
Tyrico Bellamy equalised for Gall Hill in the 67th minute, before Shakarie Mottley put them ahead in the 77th minute. The game then took a final twist in the 81st minute, as Anson Barrow leveled the scores at 2-2 for Ellerton.
Ellerton missed the chance to move into second position, but remained in third on 24 points, while Gall Hill moved to 13 points, but remained eighth due an inferior goal difference to UWI.
Premier League action continues at the Wildey Technical Centre on Tuesday, as Brittons Hill face Bagatelle, while St Andrew Lions play Wotton.
(KH)
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