SANTA’S sleigh may have been delayed, but another sporting title is still on the way for the UWI Blackbirds.
The Blackbirds’ bid to become the women’s football champions was slightly halted by a shocking 1-0 loss to Genesis when the queens in waiting completed their 2017 fixture on Tuesday at the Usain Bolt Sport Complex.
However, even if the defending champions National Sports Council (NSC) repeat their first- round 4-1 win over Unity Stars in their final game tonight at Friendship, it would not reduce the 16 goals difference needed to stop the UWI footballers from joining their cricketers, netballers and volleyballers in bringing gold to Cave Hill in 2017.
Against the run of play, Genesis’ lone shot at bars earned them the upset win after their defence and goalkeeper Jeneice Clarke had spent most of the match battling the relentless attack of the Blackbirds.
In the first five minutes of the game UWI’s Caitlin Padmore almost added to her 12 goals when she fired a cracker onto the cross bar.
It took great defence from schools’ junior bodybuilding champion Rowland Kirton-Browne, Amber Clarke, Shonelle Stephen and the pint sized Elsa Walcott to thwart the numerous incursions from UWI.
The dangerous Gabrielle Lopez and Rianna Cyrus were repeatedly pushed to the various flanks until they ran out of real estate to get into crosses.
In the 69th minute, Christaline Chandler received a through ball where she shook two defenders and a clash with the approaching custodian left Cadijah Morris on the carpet as Chandler slotted home before UWI’s defence could reset and intervene.
On the stroke of the final whistle, Lopez almost locked the scores, but she was stopped by a spectacular slide tackle from the solid Stephen.
NSC, who needed 19 goals from their final two games were affected on Tuesday by a default win over Technique, which netted them a 3-0 win. Thus, to deny the Blackbirds NSC must defeat Unity Stars by 16 clear goals. UWI have ended on 30 points and NSC are on 27. (KB)
