Dario Harewood’s stoppage time volley stunned ten-man Crane & Equipment Ellerton to give Paradise all three points with a 2-1 victory in their out-of-zone clash in the Barbados Football Association Premier League.
Earlier, Omani Leacock’s hat-trick helped Zone 2 leaders Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme (BDFSP) to a comprehensive 4-1 defeat of Empire, before Brittons Hill made light work of Zone 2 bottom club Home Improvement Hardware Compton on a lively Saturday night at the Wildey AstroTurf.
BDFSP commenced the proceedings with a routine 4-1 dispatching of Empire. Empire were hoping to build on their valiant draw with fellow Zone 1 club Weymouth Wales, but Rashad Jules’ “daisy cutter” in the tenth minute gave Empire an early setback.
Unable to get a proper foothold in the game, Empire succumbed to another defensive error, with Omani Leacock converting his first of the night just before half time.
Leacock tripled BDFSP’s lead shortly after the restart in the 49th minute. Left winger Jules’ fierce drive was deflected into Leacock’s path by goalkeeper Travis Marshall, leaving the striker the infallible task of scoring from three yards.
Empire did not rally for a reply until the 77th minute when Ormando McLeod side-stepped onrushing goalkeeper Kishmar Primus to slot into the vacant net.
That glimmer of hope turned into a groan of gloom in the 84th minute. Leacock completed his hat-trick with a cheeky finish to round off a comfortable performance.
Brittons Hill United also had a straightforward evening, winning 2-0 over Compton with strikes from Donte Greenidge and Romario Small.
Greenidge showed some neat footwork on the left wing before beating his defender to lob the ball into the net after 38 minutes.
He returned to assist with the second goal on the hour mark. After pulling the defenders and goalkeepers out of their positions with a darting run, Greenidge picked out Romario Small with his square pass and Small calmly finished with the goalkeeper nowhere to be found.
Paradise made a pulsating start to their duel with Ellerton and even had the ball in the back of the net in the first minute, but it was disallowed for offside. Ellerton then made a rapid riposte, going ahead through Damien Walcott’s header from Zico Mascoll’s cross in the third minute.
Frustrated by resilient Ellerton custodian Jamar Brewster, Paradise were unable to produce after such a positive beginning.
Akeel Applewhaite delivered the equaliser in the 68th minute, thereby opening his personal goal account for the season.
Captain and goal scorer Walcott was shown a straight red card by referee Mark Moses in the 89th minute and the consequences would manifest at the resulting free kick.
Mario Williams’ kick curled its way to the back post where it was met by substitute Dario Harewood’s waiting right boot for an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net. (NM)
