The narrative went strictly as planned for Pride of Gall Hill with a David type of performance against Paradise Club, the Goliath of the story, as the latter were struck down 4-3 during their Group B match.
There were two matches scheduled for Sunday evening and the second game between Wotton Football Club and Whitehall Titans ended prematurely in the 70th minute due to unsafe weather conditions where the lightning took centre stage.
Both teams were tied 1-1 with a goal each from Omani Leacock of Wotton (17th) and Rashad Phillips of Whitehall (54th). The match is slated to continue on Saturday September 14th at 6 pm at Greens playing field.
The first match unfolded nicely when Gall Hill, promoted to the Premier League this year, showed they belonged, grabbing a confident 2-0 start and taking the momentum straight into halftime.
Senior player Ranaldo Marques kept things moving nicely for Gall Hill in the midfield and scored the opening goal in the 14 minute.
Teammate Tyrese Crawford, positioned mostly on the right-wing, scored a lovely goal that left Paradise central defenders Raquan Clarke and Tito Beckles speechless in the 44th minute. There was nothing Paradise goalkeeper Nashton Browne could have done to keep the ball out of the net.
It took a few substitutions for Paradise to get going in the second half. Substitute Winston Maynard continued his scoring form for Paradise with two goals accounted for in a small window of between the 61st and 63rd minutes.
The players from Dover managed to level the scores 2-2 and make the showdown even more entertaining for the large crowd of supporters on hand.
Just when things were looking good for Paradise attempting to make a comeback, centre referee Jermaine Newsman awarded back-to-back penalties to Gall Hill which caused great debate and was met with disapproval by some spectators.
The competent Kobe Burgess fired away from the 12-yard spot in the 73rd and 90’ +2 minutes. Armando ‘Suga’ Lashley with the captain armband for Paradise found a goal in the 90’+4 minute to reduce the deficit but it was all too late.
Two minutes later in the 90+6 minute, Paradise coach Jason ‘Barbers’ Boxill received a red card from referee Newsman for inappropriate language.
Paradise came into the match leading Group B with three points after a 3-2 win over Wotton in their first round match. It means Gall Hill with a win and a draw from two games have taken over the top of Group B standings with four points.
It means Paradise will have to regroup and come much stronger in their third encounter against Whitehall.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s nightcap match between Whitehall and Wotton will await confirmation on the date and venue where the remaining minutes of that game will be played.
On Friday in Brereton, St. Philip, two games played in Group A. Deacons won 3-1 against Parish Land. Scoring for Premier League team Deacons were Shaquan Haynes (9th), Mikalai Dziazhko (12th) and Keon Atkins (21st). Parish Land’s sole goal scorer was Devene Gale-Forde in the 19th minute.
St. Andrew Lions were destroyed 4-0 by Notre Dame Soccer Club. Jamar Grazette scored a brace in the 24th and 80th along with a goal each from Marco St. Hill (2nd) and Joshua Clarke (29th).
(AS)
