By BVIFA

St Johns, Antigua – a shorthanded BVI National Men’s Football team put up a spirited battle against Antigua on Sunday March 22nd, 2015, only to go down to the game’s only goal, ahead of the World Cup Qualifier in Dominica later this week.

The game’s only goal came in the 6th minute when Mervyn Hazlewood took advantage of a defensive lapse to calmly slot home past the BVI’s Man of the Match, Daniel Barker.

Coach Avondale Williams, though, was pleased with the overall performance of a hastily re arranged team, which had fallen “foul” of FIFA’s eligibility rules.

“I’m very pleased with the performance of my team tonight, we had to reshuffle things at the last minute, but all the players stepped up and battled well,” said Williams. “Debutants, Mario Burke, and Allon Williams played well as did Daniel Barker in goal. Hopefully we can be more successful as we go on.”

Barker was a standout performer, playing in goal. “We played well and in terms of performance, we are getting better every game. It’s not about individual performance, but how we play as a team, so tonight bodes well for the future,” said the goalie.

One of the young debutants was Mario Burke, who came to the squad late, but impressed both in training and during his first game for the Territory. “I really went out there and tried my best,” said Burke. “I’m not as fit as I want to be, but I went out there and gave it my all. I will be getting up early, training, running and doing what I can to get even better for the games against Dominica.”

The team, whilst ceding large amounts of possession to Antigua, had several opportunities to level the match, but where thankful to Barker, who pulled off some stunning saves. Especially a double block late in the second half.

James Shearman was adjudged off side just before he unleashed a shot, which went narrowly over the bar and with a slightly longer leg, Andy Davis would have made a crucial contact inside the six yard box after Allon Williams won a free kick just outside the box.

The team leaves for Dominica this morning and will be preparing for a two legged, first round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, to be held in Russia.

The first leg is scheduled for the 26th March and the second leg, Sunday 29th March, both at Windsor Park, in Dominica.

By BVIAA

The BVI National Football Squad leaves for Antigua on Friday, 20th March to play one last warm up game ahead of facing an away trip to Dominica to play the first round of World Cup Qualification for Russia 2018.

With a game against Canada in round 2, the reward for the winners of the two leg fixture, the incentives are huge.

Due to the renovations on the A.O. Shirley ground the BVI has to play both legs away from home at Windsor Park in Dominica with the obvious disadvantage of losing home ground advantage.

The unavailability of the Shirley ground has also affected preparations.

“We have had to overcome many obstacles in the preparation of the team and been forced to use other fields that are not full sized for football,” commented Coach Avondale Williams. “However the squad is shaping up well and I am full of confidence we can do well against Dominica.”

Apart from various practice matches locally, Williams took his team to Anguilla to play two matches in the run up to the game against Antigua this weekend.

“The trip to Anguilla was a good eye opener as to where we were in terms of fitness and tactics,” said Williams. “Although both games ended in defeat, I was happy with what I saw and have been able to rectify a few things ahead of the Antigua game. The players worked well as a unit, did all I asked of them and showed good intensity throughout the 90 minute games”

Antigua of course is a step up from Anguilla and will be a sterner challenge. “Whilst the game will be taken seriously, it is only another practice match ahead of Dominica,” explained Williams. “We don’t know what team Antigua will pick, but my focus is on how we play and how the boys stick to the game plan. It will be a great experience and whilst hoping for a positive result, of more importance is getting the whole squad a run out and to stay injury free”

Williams had the opportunity to watch Dominica play Antigua last weekend when they suffered a 1-0 defeat to the hosts.

“Dominica looked like a young team, with some speed and skill, but we are also young and have been working hard on fitness so should be able to match them. Antigua gave them a good run for their money and I don’t see why we can’t either,” said Williams.

The full squad includes: Montgomery Butler, Vasquever Frett, Daniel Barker, Troy Ceasar, Andy Davis, Gregory James, Ryan Dicker, Jamal Sargeant, Carlos Septus, Peter Monk, Trevor Peters, Karl Tuitt, Jordan Johnson, James Shearman, Shamoy Thompson, Kevin Fisher, Vanquever Frett, McTair James, Jumaane Morton, Fladimir Septus, Alton Williams, James Felix and Christopher Telemaque.

The Coach is Avondale Williams, Assistant Coaches are John Riley and Lenroy Henry, the Physiotherapist is Sheldon Harry, and the Manager is Wendell Nichols.

The first leg of the World Cup qualifier takes place on March 26th and the “return” leg will take place on March 29th. Both games will be streamed over the internet.

The BVI Masters was defeated two goals to one in their final match of the World Veterans Masters Soccer Tournament played in St. Croix from March 5 – 8th.

Needing just a draw from their final match against the Guayama Masters of Puerto Rico to win their group, the BVI Masters failed to capitalize from a first half penalty when Humprey Leue missed from the spot.

“The Puerto Ricans were using a lot of dirty tactics and the referees were very poor,” was coach Elroy Mills’ complaint after the match.

In what was an obvious goal, Meguel Gonsalves of Puerto Rico used his hand to knock the ball out of the goal. The referee called a penalty but failed to send the player off despite the protest of the BVI Masters.

The same player went on to score two goals for Puerto Rico. Avandale Williams scored the BVI Masters only goal.
In the other two matches, the BVI Masters defeated US Virgin Islands (USVI) Masters one goal to nil from a Rohan Lennon 30 yards shot.

In their second match, the BVI Masters defeated Retroactive of the USVI three goals to nil, with two goals from Franklyn Victor and one goal from Humphrey Leue.

In the other group, Delta Touchmasters came out on top over the T&T Milans on goal difference, after both teams played to a one-goal draw.

Puerto Rico Guayama went on to defeat the Delta Touchmasters of the USA three nil to win the finals and the World Veterans Soccer Masters title.

By BVIFA

The game of week four in the BDO Primary School League was without doubt the 3-2 win for the Seven Day Adventist U9 team over Bregado Flax Educational Centre, but the action in the LIME High School League also thrilling.

The SDA side raced into a two goal lead after a double strike from Keon Sampson in the 8th and 14th minute. However an own goal in the 15th and a Jadique Winchester equalizer in the 17th put the game on a knife edge, until the 40th minute when Denvin Jones snatched the winner.

In other U9 games, the BFEC Girls team put a spirited fight before going down 5-1 to Joyce Samuel Primary. M’Kori Crabbe hit a brace, whilst Jaden Fahie, Akeem Percival and Kimori Maduro added one each. Z’Wayah Hodge scored for the girls.

Cedar Green beat Corner Stone, 5-0 with Ryan Lettsome and Alex Fountain both scoring twice and Danny Henderson once.

Alexandrina Maduro then beat Jost Van Dyke, 3-0, with a brace by Rashaad Francis and one by J’Kwon Higgins.

In the U7’s, SDA beat First Impressions 1, 1-0 on a lone strike from Kevaughn Glasgow, St Georges drew, 1-1, with JSPS, with Riley White cancelling out an own goal and Enis Scatliffe Primary School Teal beat Montessori, 1-0, thanks to Esias Henry.

In the U13’s, Cedar White romped to a 6-0 victory over Enis Adams, with Scott Kirk scoring a hat trick, and a goal a piece from Noah Leese, Connor McCullum and Noah Pierce. First Impressions beat Robinson O’Neal, 2-0, courtesy of a Justin Smith penalty and a Jamal Prentice goal, whilst Luka Chalwell scored a hat trick for Cedar Green in the 6-0 win over Leonora Delville. The other goals came from Josh Cowlard, Luca Reich and Nathan Haycraft.

Meanwhile in the LIME High School League, Cedar School held on to beat St Georges, 1-0, despite end to end, thrill a minute action in a game that saw both keepers pulling off saves, defenders making last ditch tackles and players battling for the ball all over the park. Leo Forte calmly fired home the only goal of the game and whilst Cedar were happy to grab all three points, St Georges will feel disappointed not to at least drawn the game.

By BVI Platinum

The inaugural World Veterans Masters Tournament kicks off in St.Croix from March 5 – 8, 2015 with teams from the USA, Denmark, Puerto Rico, USVI, Trinidad and the BVI participating.

The tournament is being sponsored by the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism as a lead up to the centennial celebrations of the transfer of the Virgin Islands from Denmark to the USA, which would be celebrated in 2017.

“This means that for the next three years we will be seeing Masters’ football at its best in St.Croix”, tournament coordinator Mr. Earle Robinson stated.

He added, “The BVI Masters has built up a name for themselves throughout the region, so we are pleased that they would be here to test their skills against some former world stars”.

Local coordinator, Mr. Kenrick Grant stated that the BVI Masters team is comprised of players who have surpassed the age of forty years and are still actively playing the game.

The basic rule for Masters football is that all players must be forty years and over.

There will be prizes for the winners, as well as individual awards. The award for the oldest player would be going to seventy year old Alvin Corneal from Trinidad, while the BVI’s oldest contender is sixty years old Brown.

The BVI squad is comprised of Elroy Mandraka Mills – coach, Pheobe Murrell – Manager, Haenif James, Anthony Bramble, Rohan Lennon, Bernard Grant, Kenrick Grant, Gregory Grant, Richard Reid, Humphrey Leue, Courtney Johnson, Michael Dennis, Garnet Ferron, Adrin St.Ville, Kelvin Eubanks, Beauston Brown, Rodney Prince, Sheldon Harry, Franklyn Victor, and Avandall Williams.

“The most difficult part of the team’s preparations has been raising the necessary funds…So we are still appealing to anyone who might want to assist us financially,” Mr. Grant stated.

The team is partly sponsored by the BVI Football Association, who is limited with what they can do, as Masters football is not yet a recognized FIFA tournament.

By BVIFA

Recent action in the BVIFA BDO and LIME school leagues included a big win for St Georges Primary School in the U7’s over Enid Scatliffe Red and for Begrado Flax Educational Centre against Montessori School.

The big win for St Georges, 7-0, over Enid Scatliffe Red came on the back of two goals each by Christian Vanterpool, Reagan White and Reilly White, whilst Steven Palmer scored the other one.

Alexandrina Maduro Primary School then drew, 0-0, with BFEC, before Enid Scatliffe Maroon beat Enis Adams/Pelican Gate, 2-0.

BFEC U7’s romped to a 7-0 victory over Montessori with Joel Mars scoring four along with Jaden Abrams, Andres Bailey and Jeriek Samuel one each.

St George’s also had a 4-2 win over Claudia Creque, thanks to goals from Ronni Skelton (2), Vanterpool and Reilly White. Shamarr Thompson and Henrique Warren were on target for Claudia Creque

Robinson O’Neal Primary put five past Joyce Samuel Primary, courtesy of a Jaden Quashie hat trick and a brace from Kye Farrington.

In the under 9’s, JSPS beat BFEC, 5-1, with two goals from M’Khori Crabbe and one each from Akeem Percival, Kimori Maduro and Jayden Fahie. Zwayah Hodge netted in reply for JSPS. Claudia Creque then beat BFEC, 2-0, on goals from Jordan Dabreo and Nicholas smith, ASPS beat Willard Wheatley, 6-0, with four goals from Shammah Peters and two from De Andre Rodgers, whilst JSPS had forfeiture win over St Georges.

In under 13 action, First Impressions beat Willard Wheatley, 7-0, with Jamal Prentice scoring five, Jalen Prentice two and Justin Smith one, the Seven Day Adventist School played out a goalless game with Althea Scatliffe Primary, St Georges beat Jost van Dyke, 3-1, with Michael Pallandino, Xiiomar Gunn and Sheldon Harry scoring before Tristan Palmer pulled one back for JvD and AMPS beat BFEC, 9-1, with four goals from Shomari Maduro, three from Akonzo Baptiste and two from Kemari Watson.

In LIME High School action St Georges drew 1-1 with BFEC as the Virgin Gorda school equalized late on after Guillaume Parkins opened the scoring for St Georges.

BFEC beat SDA, 4-0, Elmore Stoutt High School overcame SDA, 7-2 and SDA beat BFEC, 2-0.

By BVIFA

BVIFA school leagues- week 2- featured a five goal salvo from Joyce Samuel Primary School talisman, G’Anton Grant, an eight goal performance by Enid Scatliffe Maroon’s and a baptism of fire for the Seven Day Adventist Girls School Team.

Action got underway with the Seven Day Adventist School U7’s beating Enid Scatliffe School Teal, 2-0, on goals by Roeshawn Hemerding and Kevaun Glasgow, whilst Cedar White were awarded forfeiture against Enis Adams / Pelican Gate.
JSPS then smashed five past Enid Scatliffe Red with G’Anton Grant scoring all five.

Alexandrina Maduro beat Montesorri by the same score line with goals coming from Antonio Bailey, who scored a hat trick, Shamoy Smith and Jaheim Bajai.

Enid Scatliffe Maroon put eight unanswered goals past Leonora Delville with Mario Caster notching three, and Ethan Faulkner, Khaleel Parkinson, Christopher Robinson, Elian Rodriquez and Khalen Parkinson adding one each.

In the U9’s Cedar Green beat Begrado Flax, 2-0, on goals from Alex Fountain in the 3rd and 18th minute.

A Deshaun Richardson hat trick (8th, 14th and 17th mins) sped Robinson O’Neal primary school u13’s to a 5-0 win over Enis Adams Primary on Tuesday at Baughers Bay. Malique Baptiste also added a brace to round out the scoring.

Also in Group A, Begrado Flax beat Cedar White with Tikhai Richardson netting a brace and Kyreek Gardiner one.

In Group B, AMPS lost 5-1 to ASPS on a triple from Marcus Butler junior (8, 36 and 46th minutes) and two goals from Allen Martin. Alonzo Baptiste scored for AMPS.

And the week’s final action saw Leonora Delville beat Begrado Flax, 2-1, with a goal apiece from Sinclair Charles and Aniah George. Shondah Streete scored for BFEC.

In the LIME High School Girls League, Elmore Stoutt put the Seven Day Adventists to the sword, led by a five goal salvo from Laresha Martin. Amber Penn scored twice and Gabriella Dawson one, before ‘keeper Akira Phillip finished off the scoring in the last minute from the penalty spot.

By BVIFA

The British Virgin Islands Football Association / BDO Primary School and LIME High School Leagues are all well underway with 16 games having been played across the age groups in the Primary School leagues and Elmore Stoutt High School kicking off action in the LIME Open High School Cup, with a 5-3 victory over St Georges.

Robert Green rounded out his hat trick early in the second half, having already opened the scoring for ESHS in the 2^nd minute and doubled the lead in the 13^th. Guillaume Parkins pulled one back for St Georges in the 26^th minute, but moments later Kevaughn Watson restored the two goal advantage for ESHS to send the teams into the break at 3-1.

After Green scored his third, Shamoy Thompson added a fifth for ESHS in the 51^st minute, before some late drama ensued with St Georges converting two penalties. First Colin McDonald thumped home and then Braden Chalwell sent the keeper the wrong way, but it proved too little too late for the boys in Green as the game ended 5-3.

Of the games in the BDO Primary School League, the highlight of week one was undoubtedly back to back hat tricks by Jaden Quashie, who netted three times in Robinson O’Neal’s 5-0 victory over St Georges in the U7 Division and then repeated the dose in his side’s 4-0 win over Claudia Creque.

Danny Hendersen also notched a hat trick in Cedar Green’s 4-0 romp against Enid Scatliffe Maroons.

In other U7 action, Althea Scatliffe beat First Impressions, 1-0, thanks to a 12^th minute strike by Demoi Stoutt. Enid Scatliffe Teal came unstuck by a goal to nil against First Impressions (Ovrett Kennedy, 17^th minute). Cedar White lost 3-0 to the Maroons; Joyce Samuel Primary recorded a 1-0 win over Enid Scatliffe Tan with a goal by G’Anton Grant in the 4^th minute. Begrado Flax beat First Impressions, 1-0, thanks to a Kyle Alexander goal in the 15^th minute. The Seven Day Adventist School put 4 unanswered goals past Leonora Delville with Kevaun Glasgow hitting three of them and Dannique Joseph the other. Alexandrina Maduro drew 0-0 with Enis Adams to be the week’s only goalless tie.

In the U9’s, Andres Bailey’s 27^th minute goal proved decisive for Begrado Flax in a 1-0 win over Claudia Creque, Melissia Williams became the first female goal scorer as SDA overcame Cedar White by the same margin, Johari Lacey powered ASPS to a 1-0 win over Leonora Delville and a Rayaundre Depeza goal in the 7^th minute gave AMPS a 1-0 win over First Impressions.

In the U13 Division, SDA beat Pelican Gate/Agape, 3-1 with goals from Denvin Jones, Jordan Gaston and Keon Sampson, St Georges drew 1-1 with St Mary’s after an own goal by St Mary’s was cancelled out by Luis Munn.

Cedar Green completed the first week with an emphatic 6-0 win over Jost Van Dyke. Nathan Haycraft notched the league’s fourth hat trick and Luca Reich added a brace before Luka Chalwell rounded out the scoring.