By Morissa Lindsay
It was a good day for Kickstart Club as both their women and men’s teams won their respective matches impressively, when the Barbados Football Association’s Republic Cup and Women’s Super League competitions continued at Briar Hall, Christ Church yesterday.
A brilliant header by senior national midfielder Shante Padmore in the 68th minute captured a hard fought 1-0 win for the Kickstart Genesis women’s team in what was a thriller against Pinelands. Meanwhile, Kickstart Rush men’s team netted five goals past Dayrells Road to win 5-1 with a brace coming from forward Jalani Greene.
The most exciting game of the three-match fixture at Briar Hall was arguably the women’s encounter between Kickstart Genesis and Pinelands. With several nail-biting opportunities to score and with just two minutes left in the 70-minutes contest, it was the women of Genesis that celebrated a well-deserved win. The to-and-fro action kept spectators on tenterhooks.
The reality is that Kickstart Genesis were strong on offence as they applied unrelenting pressure on Pinelands’ defence that comprised Kamara Trotman, Eboni Atherley and Erica Evariste. Pinelands also had the services of national goalkeeper Lisa Harding who was beyond exceptional ensuring that she got her body behind every ball. It was truly a war of attrition. And Just when the match seemed heading towards a goalless stalemate, Kickstart Genesis attackers led by Asha Stevenson, Tiana Bynoe, Amber De Silva and Shante Padmore answered the call.
Centre referee Angelo Beckles awarded Kickstart a corner kick which was taken by Bynoe who delivered a well-flighted strike that found the forehead of fellow national teammate Padmore whose rocket-like connection flew into the back of the nets. Harding with all her brilliance for most of the match was unable to get her gloves on the ball in an attempt to make the save which would have been a spectacular effort. But it was not to be.
The men of Kickstart picked up from where the ladies left off and hammered Dayrells Road. Greene led from the front with goals in the 25th and 55th minutes. There was also one goal apiece for Barry Samuels in the 2nd, Luke Humphrey in the 26th and Akeem James scored in the 35th for Kickstart. Dayrells Road having missed a few opportunities of their own including a penalty awarded in the second half, finally found the back of the nets compliments of Daniel Durant in the 85th minute.
Kickstart’s goals unfolded as early as the 2nd minute when Samuel caught Dayrells Road defenders slacking off at the back which was the normal occurrence throughout the match. It should have been 2-0 a couple minutes later when Jayden Greenidge missed an open goal with an effort that should have been buried but instead the ball went clear over the goal bar.
Led by technical director, Renaldo ‘PeeWee’ Gilkes, Kickstart were technically sound as they played a touch and go style of football which worked in their favour. They created opportunities that put Dayrells Road’s goalkeeper Dwayne Williams and his defenders under constant pressure and they wilted more often than not.
Dayrells Road defender Jamar Francois had his work cut out for him at the back most of the game. Here, he clears possession from Kickstart Rush goal scorer Luke Humphrey.
The goals just kept coming for Kickstart as Dayrells Road needed to do much better in the defensive third as they made too many unforced errors that were costly. Kickstart looked very comfortable on and off the ball and coach Gilkes would have been pleased with their efforts especially the four goals in the opening half.
At the start of the second half Dayrells Road changed goalkeepers but the same story continued as Kickstart picked up from where they left off and added to the score. As flamboyant as he could get Greene registered his second goal and Kickstart’s fifth of the match. Greene dribbled and body shifted two of his markers before finding the back of the nets.
Just when Kickstart appeared set to comfortably take the game at 5-0, Dayrells Road registered a goal in the 85th minute off a free kick. It was a bit of luck for Dayrells Road that they got the goal as Kickstart goalkeeper Joshua Hynam failed to glove the ball properly. But after the pasting they got, who would have begrudged Dayrells Road a slice of good fortune
In the night cap match, L&R United trounced Chickmont 4-0. Rico Brathwaite was on target in the 77th and 89th minute respectively, while Dario Blackman
(26th) and Anderson Crawford (70th) added a goal each.
Matches were also played at three other venues yesterday and in Speightstown, Spartans FC and WRBSSC played to a 2-2 draw. The game between Checker Hall and Villa United also ended 2-2.
Over at Holders Hill in St. James, Fitts Village defeated Greens 4-2 while in the women’s game Mavericks and FVFC Femeni played to a 1-1 draw. At the venue in Friendship, RF Prime women edged Technique 2-1. Meanwhile in the men’s showdown Caribbean United were comfortable winners 3-0 against Benfica and Barbados Soccer Academy thrashed Hothersal Turning 5-2 in the final encounter of the night.
morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb
