Panthers gain BVIFA spring league crown after tie with Virgin Gorda

By Dean Greenaway

The HBA Panthers captured the BVI Football Association spring league title Sunday at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds, after settling for a 1-1 tie with Virgin Gorda. Just 15 minutes into the game, Jairo Morris scored on a goalkeeper's blunder off an assist from Eldon Williams as the Panthers defense broke down.

The Panthers evened the game in the 34th minute when Avondale 'Avon' Williams got his right leg into a free kick that went to the left of goalkeeper Jermaine Riley as both teams played to a 1-1 halftime draw.

Virgin Gorda dominated the second half, but did not capitalize on their finishes. Their final chance at scoring came in the 89th minute when captain Caswal Pondt's penalty sailed over the bar as he fell to the ground in disbelief.

"I had a little too much confidence," Pondt said after the game. "I realize that kicking the penalty is not too much in placement. I put a little too much power into the ball and it floated over the bar. I though I had it. But, it rose in the last few seconds."

Panthers manager Aubrey Liburd said two of his key players missed the start of the game which altered his game plan. "After Virgin Gorda scored, I told my guys to stay focused because I know we play better from behind so I didn't worry."

Liburd said his team did not play up to par. "Not blaming the players who were not here, but we didn't play the best football today."

Virgin Gorda's manager Jeffrey 'Zambie' Demming said his team beat itself. "We had this game won by far," he noted. "It's just that my forwards wouldn't finish it. I had lot of easy goals but we just didn't finish. We outplayed them in all divisions but, my forwards wasn't on today," he explained. "To win, we had to score and we didn't do that. We got a penalty in the last two minutes and my captain threw it away. You can't ask for anything more."