Valencia beats Old Madrid for the first time in eight tries

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

 Valencia I beat Old Madrid 4-2—their first time victory over their nemesis in eight tries—highlighting BVI Football Association Soccer league play at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds over the weekend. Valencia 1 took the lead in the 21st minute when striker Lauren Fraser beat the central defender and the goal keeper to make it 1-0, on the first of his two goals. Old Madrid evened the score in the 30th minute as Rohan Lennon capitalized when the goalkeeper fumbled the ball over the goal post and Lennon tapped it home. Fraser netted his second goal in the 42nd minute as Valencia I led 2-1 at the half. Chevon Russell gave Valencia I a 3-1 edge when he scored in the 49th minute. Clyde Williams cut the deficit to 3-2 in the 66th minute, but Lionel Grimes added an insurance goal 13 minutes later to preserve the 4-2 triumph.

The HBA Panthers won a defensive battle to beat Veterans 1-0, with the lone score coming 30 minutes into the game. Venton James showed great composure just outside the penalty area by putting the ball past his national counterpart, goalkeeper Montgomery Butler for a 1-0 lead which they carried into halftime. Both teams began the second half vying for supremacy with a barrage of attacks on either side. Each team squandered opportunities and the HBA Panthers settled for the 1-0 victory.

The VP Wolves built a 3-0 halftime lead then hanged on to defeat Connections 3-2. Petersen Azille gave the Wolves a 1-0 edge 21 minutes into the game. Azile who missed two other chances at goal, broke the defense and ran down the right flank and dished out a pass to midfielder Stuart Murphey who converted the second goal in the 25th minute.

David Findlayson’s legger made it 3-0 in the 44th minute. Three minutes into the second half, striker Okeito Johnny scored as Connections cut the deficit to 3-1. With his team on the attack, Johnny broke the Wolves’ defense for his second score in the 85th minute, as his team settled for a 3-2 loss.

In earlier games, Virgin Gorda and Valencia 1 played to a scoreless draw. Old Madrid tamed Valencia 2 by a 2-0 score. .