By Anmar Goodridge-Boyce
Weymouth Wales maintained their six-point lead at the top of the Barbados Football Association’s Premier League with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Empire on Sunday at the Wildey Turf.
Domestic football returned after a two-week international break and goals from Nadre Butcher, Sheran Hoyte and Romario Harewood ensured Wales registered a seventh consecutive win and remain unbeaten so far this season.
Empire, coached by Fitzgerald Carter, appeared to be stubborn in the initial stages and were defensively strong despite the absence of veteran centre-back Omar Primus.
Wales started slow, but threatened down the flanks with Barbados senior’s men winger Butcher. Empire’s defense, marshalled by national centre-half Kemar Holligan stood firm and frustrated Wales who were slowly growing into the match around the mid-way stage.
Empire had their fair share of possession and chances in a tension-filled first half which saw players from both teams receiving cautions.
The deadlock could not be broken in the first half, but seven minutes after the restart Butcher produced a moment of magic to score his fifth goal of the season with a stunning strike.
The 19-year-old forward collected a pass on the left flank and bamboozled Holligan with fancy footwork on the edge of the area before firing a right-footed cannon against the upright and into the back of the net past Empire’s hapless keeper Jerome Blackman.
It set tongues wagging and brought the turf to its feet as Butcher who is becoming a crowd favourite conjured up a goal worth the price of admission.
Wales were handed the numerical advantage after Empire was reduced to 10 men as Holligan was shown a red card with over half an hour to play.
And the Carrington Village-based Wales made it count as Hoyte and Harewood netted in the 80th and 86th minutes respectively to cement the victory.
In a post-match interview, Wales head coach Carlos Jackman lauded his team’s performance.
“It was a good game for the fellas tonight. It is always good to win. The opponents made it very tough but we came out with the victory in the end which is the most important thing. We had some great team goals especially the one from Nadre Butcher who is an excellent young player. We are a family and that is working for us. We are taking one game at a time right now,” Jackman said.
In Sunday’s first match, Brittons Hill United defeated Paradise 4-3.
Brittons Hill were led to victory courtesy a brace from Rommell Bynoe in the fourth and 51st minute, while Kendolph Layne (49th) and Ray Francis (61st) also scored.
Armando Lashley scored twice for Paradise in the 35th and 90th minutes while Ranaldo Trim netted in the 54th minute.
