By Neto Baptiste
Former top flight champions, Five Islands, were 4-2 winners over neighbours and also former top flight champions, Greenbay Hoppers, when they clashed in the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) First Division on Tuesday.
All goals were scored in the second half of the contest played at the FA’s Technical Center on the Sir Sydney Walling Highway, with Hoppers taking the lead in minute 46 via an Ammiel Joseph-Greenaway conversion.
Five Islands equalized just 14 minutes later via a Lazaro Suarez strike, his first of two in the contest. However, Hoppers were back in command just five minutes later when former national player, Jari Jackson netted in the 65th minute.
Five Islands then took command of the contest, scoring three unanswered goals with Demario Roberts netting in minute 71, Shane Cochrane in minute 76 and Suarez completing his brace in minute 88.
There was victory as well for Bolans FC as they beat former top flight three-peat champions English Harbour 5-3 in an exciting contest.
The encounter got off to a flying start with both teams scoring in the first five minutes. Sherquan Daniels put Bolans ahead in the fifth minute but the celebration of the home team’s fans were short-lived as Akeem Weekes equalized just seconds later, also netting in the fifth minute to bring English Harbour back on level terms.
Daniels scored a second in the 16th minute to restore Bolans’ lead at the Jennings playing field before Jaric Richards stretched their lead to 3-1 in the 39th minute. Bolans went 4-1 up just one minute into the second half when Obediah Browne scored in the 46th minute.
English Harbour staged an attempted comeback with goals from Nosakhare Edoleyi and Taj Simon in minutes 52 and 63 respectively, to make it 4-3. But, a late conversion from David Joseph who scored in the 84th minute, deflated English Harbour’s hopes of a fairytale ending and secured triumph for Bolans.
In the other match contested Tuesday, Freeman’s Village Scorpions edged former top flight champions Parham FC by a one-nil margin. Me’Kai Lewis scored the only goal for Scorpions.
