Weymouth Wales crush Kickstart 8-3 to claim PM’s Cup

Weymouth Wales routed Kickstart Rush 8-3 at Kensington Oval on Monday night, capturing the Prime Minister’s Cup and $100 000 in prize money to cap a sensational 2025 season. From the opening whistle, Wales dominated the pitch, delivering a commanding performance that cemented their place at the top of local football.

 

 

At the heart of the celebration was tournament Most Valuable Player and best defender Andre Applewhaite, who turned the final into his personal stage with a breathtaking hat-trick. Joining Applewhaite on the list of outstanding players, who each received $2 000, were best goalkeeper Ben Everett and best young player Jamarco Johnson, both of Kickstart. The most outstanding midfielder award went to Ackeel Applewhaite of Weymouth Wales, and best forward went to Sheran Hoyte of Paradise.

 

 

The intent of juggernaut Wales was unmistakable, fast, and fearless and the side moved like a well oiled machine. Applewhaite and Hoyte finished on seven goals each. Applewhaite quickly joined the scoring parade with a masterclass that unfolded in the 10th, 45+2 and 79th minutes. Prior to Applewhaite stealing the spotlight, Kickstart barely had time to settle before the scoreboard ticked into motion.

 

 

Just two minutes in, Jaheim Neblett, the same man who decided their previous final meeting in the BFA Champions Cup, struck again, this time with the opening goal for Wales, setting the tone and sending a jolt through the Kickstart side. The talented Neblett added another in the 86th minute.

 

 

At halftime, Wales Captain Hadan Holligan marched confidently into the locker room leading 4-1, fully in command with Coach Asquith Hamlet-Howell.

 

 

Applewhaite and Neblett were not the only threat. The Wales starting lineup overflowed with firepower including goalscorer Romario Harewood (77th) and Armando Lashley iced the game in stoppage time, finishing a brilliant assist from the silky Elijah Downey. Kamari Johnson of Kickstart was guilty of an own goal.

 

 

The Kickstart defenders featuring Captain Sekani Mayers, the tall man Jayden Goodridge, and Akeem James, had no answers for the sheer pace of Wales.

 

 

Kickstart managed to stage a fight back with goals from Diquan Adamson (36th), Tekyle Alleyne from the penalty spot (65th) awarded by centre referee Cleon Culley, and Demar Linton (70th). Besides that, Wales did well to shut out Kickstart forwards including teenager Jamarco Johnson. Wales were forced to substitute experienced goalkeeper Kishmar Primus, making way for Shaquan Phillips.

 

 

The third-place match offered its own fireworks as Sheran Hoyte took charge with a stunning hat-trick in the 13th, 76th, and 90+6th minutes for Paradise with a solid 6-1 win. The boys from Dover earned third place and the $15 000 prize while Wotton settled for $7 500.

 

 

Officiated by Darien Scantlebury, Hoyte opened the scoring in the 13th minute before Captain Jomo Harris doubled the lead five minutes later. Paradise maintained their momentum as Christian Gill added a third in the 42nd minute, capitalising on the growing pressure placed on Wotton’s defense. Hoyte later converted a penalty in the 76th and sealed his hat-trick deep into stoppage time (90+6’), while Khimani Cox joined the scoresheet with an 89th-minute strike.

 

 

Wotton’s lone response came from Rico Forde in the 77th minute, but it did little to shift the balance of a match controlled by Paradise. Wotton goalkeeper Raheem Agard endured a difficult outing as his defence, led by captain Keon Harding, Forde, and Jabarri Cumberbatch, struggled to contain Paradise’s fluid front line of Gill, Hoyte, Zacherie Browne, and Mikalai Dziazhko.

 

 

Paradise’s lineup, anchored by national goalkeeper Jireh Malcolm and supported by defenders Ramon Manning — almost red carded for a challenge on Wotton’s marksman Jabarry Chandler that was later overturned through the Trident Review System — McNeil Clarke, and Akeem Chandler, proved too strong as Wotton’s attackers, Darian King, Zidkijah Samuel, Davian Thorne, and Aaron Agard, failed to break through.