High scoring games highlights weekend Soccer play

BY DEAN GREENAWAY 

While the HBA Panthers were retaining their top spot in the BVI Football Association league, two high scoring games highlighted weekend play involving Veterans and Valencia 1 at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds.

The Veterans used their experience for a come from behind 6-3 victory in a shootout with Valencia 2. Errol Wellington scored in the first minute to give Valencia 2 the short lived lead, as forward Garnet Ferron evened the game at 1-1 six minutes later. Valencia 2 took a 2-1 in the 44th minute when Thou Julio scored from just outside the penalty area to end the half 2-1. The see saw scoring continued early in the second half as Shervin Peters evened the game in the 49th minute then followed with a go ahead goal in the 57th minute. Julio brought Valencia 2 even with another goal in the 60th.

Meanwhile, Valencia 1 whipped the Connections 9-0. Allessandro Palladino started the scoring 26 minutes into the game. Dwayne Ross added goals in the 30th and 34th minute for a 3-0 advantage. Palladino added a second goal in the 44th minute for a 4-0 halftime lead. Chevon Russel began the second half with the first goal in his hat trick coming in the 52nd minute. He added goals in the 80th and 83rd. Michael Haynes rounded out Valencia’s scoring with goals in the 84th and 85th to complete the 9-0 rout.

The HBA Panthers retained their position as the top team in the league, with a 3-1 victory over the VP Wolves on Sunday night. The Panthers took a 1-0 lead six minutes into the game on a legger by striker Keon Liburd—the first of his two goals—which gave them the lead they would carry into halftime. Seven minutes into the second half Venton James made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute. The VP Wolves cut the lead in half three minutes later when flanker Stephen Dougherty blasted a ball just outside the 18 yard box that beat the goalkeeper then curled into the back of the net. The Wolves had two other good chances at goal but failed to score. In the 75th minute Liburd added his second goal, this time a thunderbolt shot that left the Wolves goalkeeper standing in dismay as the Panthers cruised the rest of the way to their 3-1 victory.

Poor judgment coupled with a laid back style of play, allowed Veterans to beat Valencia 2 goal keeper for easy goals in the 64th, 72nd and 74th minutes, from Greg Grant, Peters and Ferron respectively.

Virgin Gorda and Old Madrid played to a 1-1 draw. Brian Robson gave Old Madrid the lead five minutes into the match. Virgin Gorda striker Jario Morris equalized the game in the 75th minute.