Top teams battle for Easter Cup berth

The battle for top four to book an Easter Cup berth continues to heat up in the SKNFA National Bank Premier League. S.L. Horsfords St. Pauls delivered a 2-1 defeat to Rams Village Superstars on Sunday night in the league, strengthening their bid for a top four finish and qualification for the 2018 Easter Cup, with just one more match in Round 2 of the league. Village dominated possession in the first half, but in the second half it was all St. Pauls as they took the game by the scruff of the neck; forcing Village on the defense. The pressure paid off as Keithroy Freeman’s attempted bicycle shot inside the 18 yard box ricocheted off the crossbar, only for with Ajah Jules to head the rebound in the back of the net from close range in the 59th minute.

Ten minutes later, Jules got second his goal to double the lead for St. Pauls, again with a header. Village earned a consolation goal in the very last play of the match from the penalty spot, but the win was already sealed for St. Pauls. Assistant Coach for St. Pauls Jevon Leader said the team came out the second half with the intention to express themselves and take control of the match. “(We told them) to just continue play, express yourself and be more creative in the attacking third. Let them come at us and then express yourself as we normally do on the counter,” Coach Leader said.

Coach of Village Superstars Jeffrey Hazel commended St. Pauls for their renewed effort in the second half and said his team will have to win their next match despite almost sure of booking their spot in the Easter Cup. “I thought we were a bit too slow to St. Pauls’ movement and so they capitalized on two opportunities because our movements were very slow towards defending the ball. Kudos to St. Pauls,” he said. “We just have to go out and win the game in our next encounter.”

In the night’s other match Hobson Enterprises Garden Hotspurs edged TGE Dieppe Bay Eagles 2-1.Jason Jeffers gave Spurs the lead in the first half but Eagles midway in the second half leveled the score in the 53rd minute from a Gorgel Dickson effort. Hasani Flemming however made sure Spurs would go with all three points with the go ahead goal in the 80th minute.

As it stands, any of the top 5 teams can make it into the Easter Cup as there is one more match remaining in Round 2. We have to wait until next week to know the final outcome.

1. H.E. Hobson Enterprises Garden Hotspurs 37pts
2. Rams Village Superstars 34pts
3. S.L Horsford St. Pauls 30pts
4. SOL Island Auto Supplies Conaree 28pts
5. Flow 4G Cayon Rockets` 28pts
6. Elco Ltd. St. Peters 24pts
7. Winners Circle Newtown F.C. 20pts
8. St. Thomas Trinity United 16pts
9. Fast Cash Saddlers United 10pts
10. TGE Dieppe Bay Eagles 9pts

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