By: BVI Football Association

Although there is still over a month of football left in the season, the Islanders went a long way to sealing the Premiership title with an emphatic 4-1 victory over the Sugar Boyz on Wednesday night on the A.O. Shirley Ground.

The win, which knocked the Sugar Boyz out of the Championship contention, means that whatever the result in the Islanders game on Sunday June 15th against the Wolues, a win against One Love next Wednesday, June 18th, will secure the first ever Premiership Trophy.

A win for One Love in that crunch game would then mean that they could pip the Islanders if they secure victories in their remaining fixtures.

The outcome of the match against the Sugar Boyz was effectively determined inside a crazy first five minutes for the Boyz defense when Valdo Andersen latched onto a long ball from Francis Primo ahead of the advancing Leslie Ambrose to slot home the opener and then Rohan Lenon doubled the score with the keeper nowhere in sight and only Pipe to beat from close range.

Pipe in fact blocked his first attempt, but had no chance with the second shot, when the ball bounced kindly at the feet of Lenon, who made no mistake when presented with a second opportunity.

Following a disallowed goal for off side, much to the dismay of Fitzroy Daley, Derol Redhead should have at least hit the target, if not pulled a goal back for the Boyz at the 15 minute mark, but his shot from 15 yards out went high over the Islanders bar.

Another warning for the Boyz came after 10 minutes of almost forgettable football from both sides when McGraw Baptiste made a despairing effort to cut out a pass from Andersen which was destined for the unmarked Daley on the edge of the box, but it at least stung them into some more positive attacking play which produced a fortuitous goal.

Michael Castillo’s speculative shot from outside the Islanders box, in the 26th minute, had plenty of spin and swerve on it, but Monty Butler, the Veterano Goliano for the Islanders, seemed to have it covered, if not somewhat casually. The ball, however had different ideas and deflected off Butlers arm and chest before nestling, almost apologetically, into the back of his goal.

Before the half time break though, Daley, having moments earlier been denied an appeal for a penalty, when Baptiste seemed to catch his trailing foot to send him tumbling in the Boyz box, restored the two goal advantage with a coolly placed shot past Ambrose.

Early in the second half Castillo should have done better from a free kick just outside the Islanders penalty area, but his tamely struck effort was too easy for Butler. The same player then almost latched onto a flicked header from Derol Redhead and then Butler atoned for his earlier mistake by pulling off a diving save from Nicola Luso’s header, who rose highest to meet a Terry Nanton free kick.

It proved to be the last chance for the Boyz as in the 69th minute Devon Leteen made it 4-1, curling home after a well placed cross Kevon Smith, who was in acres of space down the right following a cross field pass from Andersen.

Division One action returns to the A.O. Shirley Ground on Saturday, June 14th, when at 5pm the Panthers take on Old Madrid knowing a win is all they must strive for.

Old Madrid are top of the table and if they secure all 3 points, or even a draw, then they will be crowned Champions and gain promotion to the Premiership at the expense of the already demoted Rebels.

A win for Panthers and it will be down to goal difference to spilt the two teams, who have been the front runners from virtually day one of the season

A huge crowd of family, fans, friends and rival teams witnessed one of the most incredible Finals in BDO School League history on Saturday May 31, 2014, as only a wonder goal could separate First Impressions U12’s from Joyce Samuel Primary School at the A.O. Shirley Ground.

It is rare that a contender for Goal of the Season actually happens in a final, but the Prentice boys, Jalen and Jahmal, conjured up a piece of Football magic that was not only worthy of the accolade, but also handed First Impressions a winner in a 3-2 victory over defending U12 Champions Joyce Samuel Primary School as the BVIFA BDO School League climaxed on Saturday.

For the older generation the goal was created out of Dutch “Total Football” folklore, a fitting analogy as both play in Orange and it would be no surprise had the drag back and pass from Jalen Prentice been Johann Cruyff, the Dutch Master, passing to Johnny Rep in 1974.

For the newer generation read Ronaldo to Benzema, Suarez to Stirling or even Aguero to Dzeko.

Taking a pass from Guillaume Parkins into his stride Jalen dragged the ball from left to right and flicked a pass from behind his body into the JSPS penalty box. Brother Jahmal reacted first and deftly lifted the ball over the diving Riley Christopher with the outside of his boot to send the ball curling into the net.
That it took such a moment of brilliance from FIPS to secure a hard fought win was testament to how well JSPS had played during the final, which saw them recover from going a goal down, scored by Parkins, to go 2-1 up early in the second half.

Giovanni Grant leveled the game in the 17th minute and then Christopher scored direct from a clearance to put JSPS ahead. Parkins then scored his second, from the penalty spot, despite Christopher making a valiant effort to block the powerfully struck shot and during the last five minutes both teams had chances to score, but with defenses at both ends staying resolute it took a moment of magic to determine the destination of the Trophy and when it mattered most, up popped the Prentice Boys.

The BDO and LIME School Leagues Grand Finale had begun with the High School Girls of Elmore Stoutt High School overcoming a Begrado Flax Educational Centre Combined team 1-0 thanks to a close range strike from the very promising “Lala.”

The LIME Boys game between ESHS and BFEC then remained deadlocked at 0-0 before the BDO U7 Primary School Final took centre stage.

Althea Scatliffe Primary School took full advantage of their penalty shoot out prowess to defeat Begrado Flax 3-2 in a sudden death shoot out after the game ended 0-0.
ASPS had reached the semi finals with a win on Penalties and also claimed their spot in the Final with a similar win over Robinson O’Neal Primary before K’ Jari Thomas kept a cool head to fire home the winner in the final.

Jahari Lacey and Keshawn Martin also scored for ASPS, while Jaden Abrahams and Emanuel Etienne were successful for BFEC.

In the U9 Final FIPS raced into a 2-0 lead over Cedar Green courtesy of a Nathan Adams opener in the 10th minute and a Jalen Prentice strike in the 15th minute.

Azarni Callwood pulled one back via a long range shot for Cedar in the 25th minute, but FIPS held on to secure their first Trophy of the day.

The U12 Final then proved the true value of the commitment of BDO to support the BVIFA in fostering talent at youth level and with the support of LIME the developmental stages for young footballers are well and truly set, with the only outcome a talented group of youngsters that will represent the Territory with pride and honour for years to come.

 

As the qualifying rounds for the 2015 Gold Cup got underway on Friday May 30, 2014, Virgin Islands faced French Guiana in Group Two, hosted by Aruba and were downed 6-0.

The game played on the Astroturf surface at the Complejo Deportivo Guillermo Prospero Trinidade, Oranjestad, saw the VI concede a first half penalty, but otherwise match their taller and seemingly stronger physically opponents.

However in the second half with a lack of match fitness beginning to show and a spate of minor injuries upsetting the team’s rhythm, the VI conceded five more goals and looked a tired, relieved group when the final whistle blew.

The injury problems ahead of Sunday night’s game against the host, Aruba, include Troy Caesar (minor concussion), Gregory James (instep bruising), Joel Fahie (ankle), and Chris Telemaque (groin).

“We didn’t get any warm up games,” lamented Coach Avondale Williams. “The players have been outplayed by height and body strength, we were pushed off the ball too easily, but will learn from this and come back strong.”

The VI did create themselves a few chances and showed that when they got the ball to feet and passed it around, then they were a threat to the opposition.

The competition will once again decide several teams that will qualify for CONCACAF’s showpiece event and, on this occasion, one which will obtain an automatic berth to the Centennial America Cup 2016. The champion of the 2015 Gold Cup will then participate in a play-in match against the 2013 champion United States for a spot in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Cuba is the defending champion, capturing it’s first-ever title two years ago by topping Trinidad & Tobago 1-0 in the final. Both sides advanced to the Gold Cup along with Haiti and Martinique.