AFTER 11 rounds of matches, Rendezvous managed their first win of the season on Saturday night, blitzing fellow Zone 2 strugglers Home Improvement Compton 4-1 in the Barbados Football Association’s Premier League.
In addition to Saturday’s night cap, Mario Harte’s double helped University of the West Indies Blackbirds to a spirited 3-1 triumph over Crane & Equipment Ellerton to kick off proceedings at the Wildey AstroTurf before braces by Arantees Lawrence and Rivierre Williams helped Neighbourhood Care Pharmacy Weymouth Wales to a 6-0 humbling of Empire.
Rommel Bynoe opened the scoring for Rendezvous from the penalty spot in the 15th minute. The Rendezvous captain won the penalty himself and converted the spot kick confidently.
Christopher Shepherd Jr, who spurned some guilt-edged chances in the opening half, made it 4-0 with an hour of football played. Nicholas Jones’ trickery in the penalty area was too much for the Compton defence and he was subsequently brought down, forcing another penalty kick, which Bynoe unselfishly handed over to Shepherd Jr.
At the opposite end of the standings in Zone 1, Weymouth Wales’ strong display made light work of Empire, who produced a far more convincing showing in their 1-1 draw the first time the two clubs met.
Fitzgerald Carter’s men had their first setback in Saturday’s curtain-raiser in the ninth minute when Rivierre Williams was on hand to tap the ball into the net from close range.
The exciting Hadan Holligan got on the scoresheet in the 23rd minute prior to an expertly taken brace by Arantees Lawrence.
Lawrence’s first came in the 33rd minute after some mind-boggling skills from Romario Harewood, followed by a searching cross, delivered on a plate for Wales’ leading marksman to bury in the nets.
His second and Wales’ fourth came in the 41st minute. Harewood delivered a corner kick from the left and Lawrence held firm to outmuscle his marker and nod in at the near post to the chagrin of Empire’s custodian Christopher Wilson.
Williams got his second in the 50th after he seized a loose ball and punished Empire for their slackness at the back.
UWI Blackbirds were not as comfortable in their clash with Ellerton, though it appeared that way on the scoreline. Ellerton’s Shane Hermas put his side ahead in the 13th minute and they would preserve their lead until the half-time break.
UWI’s disappointing first-half display prompted coach Fabian Massiah into three changes that would prove to be a master stroke.
Captain Harte equalised from the spot in the 65th minute. Ellerton midfielder Rosean Brathwaite inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net in the 72nd to crush his team’s spirit heading into the final minutes of the second half.
Harte returned again four minutes from full time to complete his brace and navigate a tricky comeback for UWI, who closed the gap momentarily on Zone 2 bosses BDFSP. (NM)
