Defending champions Weymouth Wales remained within striking distance of the top three, following a clinical 5-1 victory over Bagatelle in the Barbados Football Association’s Premier League.
Kicking off their second round campaign at the Wildey Technical Centre on Tuesday, Wales took the lead in the fourth minute as defender Akeem Hill converted the first of his two goals.
Bagatelle then drew level briefly in the 11th minute via Azure Cumberbatch, before Hill struck again in the 17th minute as Wales regained the lead 2-1.
The multiple time defending champions got further goals from Ackeel Applewaite in the 38th minute and Keon Atkins on the stroke of half time, to ease into a 4-1 lead at the break.
Rashad Smith completed the rout in the 85th minute to make it 5-1, as Wales joined last season’s runners up Brittons Hill on 19 points, but overtook them to take over fourth position by virtue of a better goal difference.
Crucially they remain within one victory of leaders Paradise who have 21 points, while second placed Ellerton and third placed Kickstart Rush both have 20.
In the opening game, Eyre’s Meatshop Pride of Gall Hill and St Andrew Lions played out a 1-1 draw.
A Jomo Harewood 43rd minute goal gave Lions the lead, but it was short lived as Gall Hill drew level compliments Radarico Marques in the 48th minute.
The result saw Gall Hill join Bagatelle on 11 points while moving up to seventh thanks to their better goal difference, while Lions remain ninth and in the relegation zone on six points.
Sunday’s triple header at Wildey promises more drama, with no team yet making a strong claim for the title.
Leaders Paradise can put pressure on the chasing pack with victory over Christ Church rivals Gall Hill in the opening game at 4 p.m., while Gall Hill will be keen for an upset win, that would move them further away from the bottom half of the table.
Brittons Hill United would move back into the top three with victory over UWI Blackbirds in the evening’s second encounter, but the Blackbirds will be hoping for another win as their major team rebuild continues. Normally title challengers, they have so far won just four games and lost six, with no draws.
In the nightcap game, last-placed Wotton will be hard pressed to stop Wales from grabbing the three points needed to continue their push to retain the title. Wotton has not secured a point after 10 games, in a season that has already seen the departure of several key players and former head coach Marlon Harte, who announced his departure last Sunday.
kurtishinds@barbadostoday.bb
The post Wales thrash Bagatelle to move up to fourth appeared first on Barbados Today.
