Massy United Insurance Empire’s Peter Alleyne was in irresistible form last weekend, as action in the Barbados Hockey Federation’s Division One competition continued at the Hockey Centre, Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.
On Saturday, a fantastic beaver-trick from Alleyne led a weakened Empire side to a convincing 6-0 win over Deacons, who were also missing some key stick men. The Bank Hall lads were short of notable midfielder Laurando Davis and national defender Jerome Harewood, while the “Reds” had to fight on without national defenders Javier Wharton and Neil Franklin.
Alleyne took advantage of the porous Deacons defence and produced entertaining solo runs which drove Empire’s attacking efforts continually into the heart of the Deacons defence, resulting in goals for him in the 6th, 11th, 34th and 42nd minutes. Alleyne’s efforts bested both of Deacons’ senior custodians, as he slipped his first two past Ayoub Suttle in the first half and his second two past Deacons’ second-half goalie Dario McClean. Supporting Alleyne on the goal sheet for Empire were Akeil Craig-Browne, who netted in the 20th minute and Dwayne Webb with his in the 48th. The four-goal haul ties Alleyne with Williams Industries Avengers’ Shaile Babb in the most goals race, with both strikers on five goals.
Empire’s women might not have been as prolific with their goal-scoring but they were still happy to take a surprising 2-1 win over Williams Industries Avengers.
Though the Avengers were a couple short of a full team at the start of the match-up, they still looked favoured to take away the points based on a sturdier line-up, which included the greater share of national players.
Avengers’ Shamika Haynes opened the scoring in the 5th minute, when she ended up with the final touch from a well-built Avengers attack, beating Empire custodian Sheena Nichols. Opting to take the field for Empire, super veteran and national junior ladies coach Andrea Nichols scored the unlikeliest of goals, when she was left unmarked behind the Avengers defence and was on the receiving end of a pin-point pass from teammate Charlia Warner-Franklin. Nichols got just enough on it to guide it into an empty goal in the 36th minute, levelling the scores at 1 – 1. Playing with no keeper proved a vital mistake for the Avengers as Warner-Franklin again featured in the match, scoring the winning goal for Empire from a penalty corner in the 53rd minute.
In the final women’s action of the day, Combermere School Old Scholars (CSOS) won a hard-fought match against UWI Blackbirds 1-0.
The match was played relatively evenly throughout. CSOS seemed to have a few more solid scoring opportunities where their missing national striker Keisha Boyce might have tipped the scales in their favour.
It wouldn’t be until 10 minutes from time that young Jada Prescod found the nets for the Waterford alumni, edging her successful attempt beyond the ability of Blackbirds’ custodian Rhea Callendar. The loss was UWI’s first for the season, though they still maintain their place at the top of the Women’s Division 1 standings.
On Sunday, Monster All Stars’ Paul Gill was their Round 3 hero, scoring the only goal of the match from a penalty corner in the 43rd to edge out Williams Industries Avengers in their first encounter of the season. The win also saw them bump the Avengers from second place and take the spot for themselves, behind table leaders Combermere School Old Scholars.
The final match of the day delivered a dose of surprise when Barbados Juniors defeated UWI Blackbirds 2 – 1.
The Juniors recorded their first points of the season through goals from that man again – the in-form Peter Alleyne. Fresh from his four-goal haul for Empire Club the day before, Alleyne donned the national colours and netted two more – one from a penalty stroke in the 24th minute and again from open play in the 35th minute, to seal away the Juniors’ 3 points and move them into 6th position, ahead of UWI Blackbirds and YMCA.
While UWI Blackbirds’ Justin Catlin scored the opener in the 8th minute, his team had no answer for Alleyne’s brace, which put the young junior national’s Division 1 goal tally at the weekend at six.
Play continues this Saturday at the Wildey Hockey Center.
