Parish Land secure BFA Division One title on dramatic final night

Parish Land dramatically snatched the Barbados Football Association Division One title on the final night of the season, thrashing Potential Ballers 9-1 as leaders Pro Shottas suffered a 2-1 defeat to Empire.

Entering Wednesday’s final round two points behind Pro Shottas, the Christ Church-based side needed a victory and their title rivals to drop points. Both results went their way, allowing Parish Land to finish one point clear at the top of the table.

Parish Land ended the campaign on 56 points, having won 17 games, drawn five and lost two, while Pro Shottas finished on 55 points with 17 wins, four draws and three defeats.

The title capped another excellent season for Parish Land, who spent just one season in Division One after similarly requiring only one season to earn promotion from Division Two.

Speaking to Barbados TODAY following their penultimate game of the season on August 20, club president Kemar Ward said securing a place in the Premier League had been the team’s goal from the beginning of the campaign.

“We were a really united unit and played together and for each other like a big family,” he said.

Ward also identified Parish Land’s attacking strength as one of the key pillars of their successful season.

The drama continued further down the table as Pinelands defeated Notre Dame 2-1 to move three places up to third on 50 points.

Deacons were held to a 2-2 draw by Technique but managed to clinch fourth position on 47 points, just ahead of Empire, who rounded out the top five.

In the night’s remaining games, Fitts Village and Silver Sands played out a goalless draw, while Greens beat Barbados Soccer Academy 2-1.

Teams will now switch focus to the Prime Minister’s Cup, which kicks off on September 7, with a first prize of $100 000.

Weymouth Wales are the defending champions, while the Division One qualifiers are Parish Land, Pro Shottas, Pinelands, Notre Dame, Empire, Deacons, Technique and Whitehall.

They will be joined by Division Two sides Atlas United, Cave Hill, Black Spurs, L&R United, Chickmont and Ivy Rovers.

(KH)