Impressive league challengers Westside Superstarz will have another sight of a first trophy, after it secured a place in the semifinal of the blink/bmobile National Super League (NSL) knock-out competition, following a 2-1 victory over Eagles, yesterday.
The match was played in familiar territory to coach Nigel Grosvenor and several players of the Westside team, at St Anthony’s College Ground, Westmoorings. Grosvenor, who also leads St Anthony’s College in the Secondary Schools’ Football League, continued his fine run as coach of the Superstarz team, as the team won yet another match. The team has only lost two fixtures in all competitions this season.
Westside took the lead through a close range Jack Weedon strike with less than five minutes into the second half, after the former St Mary’s College standout dispossessed an Eagles defender in his penalty box. Akeil Gilbert doubled the score in the 68th minute for Westside with a pin-point left-footed effort into the far post, after cutting in from the right flank.
Westside continued to build momentum and may have scored several more chances, with Weedon in particular, having himself the opportunity to score a hat-trick. Minutes after the second goal, Weedon creatively skipped past a host of Eagles defenders, along with goalkeeper Perry Martin, and with an open goal, he swept his effort into the post.
Eagles attempted a late comeback and scored with two minutes remaining through Nathan James, who pounced on a loss ball, dropped by Westside custodian Stefan Berkeley, who made a series of fine saves throughout the encounter.
In the day’s other quarterfinal, bmobile Joe Public defeated Defence Force 2-0 in a dull encounter, at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya. Ishmael Daniel and one of the “Eastern Lions” players of the season last year, Brent Antoine were on target.
Daniel scored a neat header in the first half, before Antoine sealed the victory with a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area in the 83rd minute. The results of the two matches mean a mouth-watering semifinal fixture, where Joe Public and Westside Superstarz meet, on Sunday.
The day’s other knockout fixture between league leader WASA FC and newly promoted FC Santa Rosa was rescheduled for Thursday. The match will kick off at the same time (4 pm) at WASA Ground, St Joseph. The winner of the match will take on Saturday’s winner of the clash of Tobago clubs, where Stokely Vale trounced 1976 FC Phoenix 3-0.
Results
Saturday
Stokely Vale 3 (Krishawn Joseph 13th, 83rd, Dominic Dougall 73rd) v 1976 FC Phoenix 0
Sunday
Joe Public 2 (Ishmael Daniel 35th, Brent Antonie 83rd) v Defence Force 0
Westside Superstarz 2 (Jack Weedon 49th, Akeil Gilbert 68th) v Eagles Utd 1 (Nathan James 89th)
Fixtures
Thursday
WASA FC v FC Santa Rosa,
WASA Ground, St Joseph—4 pm
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