Ellerton, Lions play to thrilling draw

By Anmar Goodridge-Boyce

Ellerton FC were held to an entertaining 3-3 draw by St Andrew Lions as the Barbados Football Association (BFA) premier league continued on Tuesday night at the Wildey Turf.
In a frantic first half which resulted in six goals being scored, Ellerton were leading in the sixth minute compliments former Under-17 national captain Roshon “Speedy” Gittens who converted from close range after winger Rashad Jules broke free down the left and delivered a delightful cross along the carpet for Gittens to steer home.
The men from St George then doubled their advantage three minutes later and mounted extreme pressure on the Lions after Darico King was dispossessed deep in his own half and Ellerton captain Shakille Belle latched onto the loose ball and tucked away to beat Mario Albert from inside the box.
Shamar “Buju” Edwards halved the deficit for the Lions in the 16th minute, hitting a perfectly-timed right-footed curler which flew past Ellerton custodian Jamar Brewster.
The Lions were level seconds later as momentum shifted hands and King uncorked the goal of his career, collecting the ball with his right boot before striking a cannon from distance to beat the outstretched Brewster.
It was a spectacular goal which sparked wild celebrations from the Lions’ bench, but their jubilation appeared to be short-lived as Jules restored Ellerton’s lead in the 19th minute with a left-footed effort.
Midway through the half, the Lions once again staged a comeback as Edwards assisted Rasheed Greaves who arrived unmarked at the back-post and finished a supreme move to ensure the points were shared.
In the first encounter on the night, UWI Blackbirds defeated Notre Dame 3-1.
Kyle Forde-Blades gave the Blackbirds the lead in the 18th minute before Zeco Edmee produced a free-kick on the brink of halftime to level the score at the interval.
Jaron Oughterson reinstated UWI’s advantage nine minutes from time before teenage substitute Rovaldo Massiah scored on his Premier League debut in the 89th minute.
The 16 year-old student of St Leonard’s Boys and product of Weston, St James, delivered a jaw-dropping volley to cement the victory for the Blackbirds.
“I’m so excited and happy to get my goal. I was thinking about it all the time as I was warming up. This is a moment that I have waited for for a long time and I finally got it and I made the most of the opportunity. I was happy to get the job done for my team,” Massiah said.