Armando Lashley scored the game’s lone goal deep in extra time against Kickstart Rush to help Weymouth Wales lift their fifth straight Barbados Football Association Premier League title at the Wildey Technical Centre on Sunday.
Lashley, the league’s all-time leading goal scorer, had the honour of clinching this year’s title with a well taken shot following a late corner, as Wales dug deep to win in the closing seconds for the fifth time in their last six games.
The result saw them move to an unassailable 40 points with one round of games remaining, with last year’s runners-up Brittons Hill United moving into second position on 35 points following a 1-0 win over Paradise in Sunday’s opening game.
Paradise meanwhile, have slipped to fourth in the standings on 33 points, after challenging for the title for most of the season.
Third placed Kickstart Rush also have 33 points, but a slightly better goal difference of 38 as opposed to Paradise’ 37.
With the title now secured, Wales, who are also the reigning BFA Champions Cup and Prime Minister’s Cup champions, will now be eyeing success in the latter two competitions.
This season has been the most challenging in recent memory for the Carrington Village-based side, following a series of injuries to key players and the departure of national captain Andre Applewaithe on a professional contract.
And despite having no player in the top 10 of the league’s most goals list, Wales saw off stiff competition yet again.
In the evening’s first match, Shaquille Boyce’s 57th minute strike was enough to give Brittons Hill a tough 1-0 win over Paradise, much to the delight of coach Richard Forde.
“As I said from the beginning we were really pushing for the title this season, but I think we really threw away our chances when we drew the games against Bagatelle and Gall Hill.
“I always look back and say those games would have given us an outside chance to win the title, but I still think the boys did well,” Forde said.
The experienced coach said the team’s uptick in form came after he took drastic measures.
“They didn’t like it, a lot of people did not like it, but you know if we want to come and compete you have to come and train. You know sometimes we played well and then on some occasions we were awful in games. I believe if we can measure how we play and approach each game, then I think that we could go one step further,” Forde added.
Forde was also happy Boyce grabbed the winning goal, after a season where his opportunities were limited.
“He’s been training all the time, and you know sometimes when you look at our front three it has been hard sometimes for him to get into the team.
Tonight was his opportunity and he didn’t disappoint. I was happy with that,” Forde concluded.
St Vincent and the Grenadines’ international, Kirtney Franklyn of Brittons Hill United leads the Golden Boot race on 18 goals, with Ellerton captain Shakille Belle second on 15. Sheran Hoyte of Paradise and his team mate Kamol Griffith both have 13 goals, along with Torian Joseph of Bagatelle, heading into this week’s final round of games.
(KH)
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