Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme (BDFSP) stayed at the top of the Digicel Premier with a come from behind 2-1 victory over Paradise, last Sunday night at the National Stadium.
Pride of Gall Hill stayed close on their heels, earning a 3-1 win in the Christ Church derby over Silver Sands, while Weymouth Wales slipped up against Magnum Tonic Wine Dayrell’s Road, drawing 1-1.
Dayrell’s Road fight for survival started positively, as they fought fearlessly against an all-out attacking Wales unit who were hoping to go on top of the standings with a victory.
Dwayne Stanford got Wales off to a good start, scoring in the 22nd minute but just when Wales thought the three points were secured, Dayrell’s Road center back Jabarry Lucas levelled the score just before the final whistle.
Derbies are usually feisty and testy encounters and this Christ Church one lived up to such expectations. A hat-trick by national forward Jabarry “Papi” Chandler was blemished by an unnecessary and thoughtless fracas between the two teams which eventually required constabulary intervention.
Gall Hill seemed a shadow of the team which impressed early on in the season; they were not connecting passes, the movement was slow and their midfield never got things going.
Silver Sands played with seven players behind the ball with a low defensive line, obviously to hold their more buoyant opponents scoreless and possibly hit them on the counter which they did a couple times in the first half.
Chandler gave Gall Hill the lead a minute before the break, collecting a loose ball in the area and with fantastic technique struck a half volley powerfully pass Rhawn Cox in goal.
Silver Sands came out in the second half sluggish and lacking purpose. Chandler made them pay by doubling his and Gall Hill’s tally in the 56th minute in almost carbon copy to the first; this time striking from the right side inside the penalty area from approximately eight yards out.
Christopher Harris plunged Silver Sands into further trouble when he was given marching orders by referee Desmond Edwards for his second bookable offence in the 66th minute.
Tyrell Hinkson brought Silver Sands within one in the 87th minute with a thunderous free kick from 25 yards out which gave young custodian Rushan Adamson no chance.
Silver Sands were granted some hope and eagerly wanted to get back to their half of the field but that was halted by a fracas which occurred inside the Gall Hill penalty area. As a result four players were ejected, three from Gall Hill and one from Silver Sands.
When the game resumed, Chandler completed his hat trick, converting from the penalty spot in injury time after Shaquille “Zuka” Boyce was brought down in the penalty area.
BDFSP remained on course to retain their Premier League title with an industrious victory, which required them coming from a goal down.
Paradise started brightly and Armando Lashley converted his seventh goal of the season in the 21st minute with a fantastic piece of skill; “nutmegging” one defender and side-stepping another before drilling home his right foot shot inside the near post to the despair of the outstretched Albert Brathwaite.
Paradise carried that lead into the interval but the defending champions quickly responded after the break. A moment of folly by custodian Jason Boxhill in the 49th minute allowed Kyle Gibson to get on the score sheet; a routine pick up seemed to have been bundled by Boxhill and Mario Harte picked up the loose ball to cross to the unmarked Gibson to side foot from just six yards and level the scores.
Paradise had prime opportunities to go ahead but instead their resurgence was hindered by the expulsion of right wing back Shaquille Stoute for a second yellow card in the 66th minute.
BDFSP took advantage of having an extra player and went ahead in the 75th minute courtesy a right footed blast from defender Tariq Highland.
Kenmore Bynoe
