By BVI Football Association
Wolues F.C. vs Old Madrid F.C at BVIFA 2016 National League match on September 24. Photo: BVISports.com
Whilst many awaited the mouthwatering clash between the Islanders F.C. and the Sugar Boys F.C. the match of the weekend was the first game on Saturday 24th September, between the Wolues F.C. and Old Madrid.
In the first thirty minutes of the game, the only excitement to get the crowd engaged was the appearance of two paragliders landing on the A.O. Shirley Ground, apparently diverted from their attended target of Nanny Cay by a lack of wind.
However, after two goals were disallowed for offside, just two corners, both to Old Madrid and only one shot on target, Kenmore Peters arrived at the far post, unmarked, to head home a Sheldon Harry free kick in the 35th minute.
Leo Forte almost leveled for the Wolues moments later as he burst through the midfield towards goal only to be denied by a last gasp tackle from Courtney Johnson as he lined up his shot.
A delightful interchange of passes between Timothy Parsons and Xavier Arnougili saw the latter fire inches wide to sound further alarm bells in the Old Madrid defense, which had up until the dyeing moments of the first half, been expertly organized by Danny Joseph.
The Wolues finally got a deserved equalizer in the 64th minute when Christopher Farmer fired home a volley from an acute angle, latching onto a half clearance following a Rory Greenan free kick.
Peters almost put Old Madrid back in front with a diving header, but in the 68th minute, substitute Noel Maxwell put the Wolues up 2-1 with a curling effort evading the dive of Dion Clarke in the Madrid goal.
In the 80th minute Peters arrived unmarked again at the Wolues far post to nod home the equalizer after a free kick from the Madrid left deceived Andre Gaymes in the Wolues goal, but James Drury secured all three points for the Wolues with a 25-yard free kick, which went up and over the wall and past the despairing Clarke to make it 3-2 in the 87th minute.
The Rebels F.C. then made a winning start to their campaign with a 3-1 victory over VG United, with a first half goal scored by Michael Baptichon, cancelled out by Xavier John in the 64th minute before Howard Johnson restored the advantage a minute later and Baptichon scored his second and the Rebels third in the 80th minute.
On Sunday, Uriah Jnr. Baptiste put One Love on the way to a 3-1 win over the Panthers, scoring in the 33rd minute, before two second half goals from Richard Morgan confirmed the win, despite Kenny Emmanuel giving the Panthers reason to hope for at least a share of the points with his 66th minute equalizer.
The Islanders then secured a 2-0 win over arch rivals, the Sugar Boys with goals from Kevin Fisher, who bundled home a loose ball from close range in the first half and Nano Ottley in the second.
