Defence Force yesterday exemplified the unpredictable nature of the blink/bmobile National Super League, as the “Teteron Boys” second-tier outfit stunned leader WASA FC 3-0, in the second to last match of the season, at WASA Ground, St Joseph.
Ironically, it was a mirror result of the first leg meeting this season which Defence Force won at home, to hand WASA its worst defeat of the season. It took just over an hour for Defence Force to open the scoring through former St Anthony’s College midfielder Dave Long. Less than 15 minutes later, a former St Mary’s College all-rounder Dillon Kirton doubled up, before stamping the win with a second in the 90th minute.
The result meant that both Westside Superstarz, which sits second and third-placed defending champion bmobile Joe Public, both of which recorded victories at the same time, remained in the running for the title. It also meant that Defence Force avoided relegation.
Westside, which dropped last year’s promoted club FC Santa Rosa 2-1, compliments of a goal in the 86th minute from Kevon Piper, went three points behind the leader, while Joe Public, which survived a late scare in a 2-1 victory over Eagles United, went within five points with a match in hand.
Former national forward Andre Toussaint scored a first half brace, while Eagles almost upset the visitors with a goal in the 88th minute from Bernard McCall. The result saw Eagles, which had a see-saw campaign relegated.
Westside Superstarz will need to win its final match, while WASA will need to lose for the former team to take the title for the first time. Joe Public will need to win its next two matches as well to stand a stand a chance.
On Wednesday Joe Public will play a rescheduled match at home to 1976 FC Phoenix, at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, from 4.30 pm. WASA will face Santa Rosa in both teams’ final match on Sunday, at WASA Ground.
In other results, Club Sando and Biche United all suffered losses, which saw them relegated into their respective associations. Most disasterous was Biche United’s away loss, 5-0, to Stokely Vale, which was down to 10 men before they scored their first goal.
Biche never found momentum this season and was particularly weak in defence as they, with one match remaining, have a ratio of over three goals conceded per match.
Tyronne Manning scored a hat-trick for Stokely Vale, the knockout champions, before Rohan Sebro and Shannon Sandy put the nail in Biche’s coffin. Real Maracas also confirmed itself alive for next year’s competition with a 2-1 win over Club Sando.
Following the two rescheduled matches on Wednesday, the final round will be contested on Sunday.
Results
Stokely Vale 5 (Tyronne Manning 45th, 75th, 84th, Rohan Sebro 89th, Shannon Sandy 90th) v Biche United 0
Joe Public 2 (Andre Toussaint 7th pen, 43th) v Eagles United 1 (Bernard McCall 88th)
Defence Force 3 (Dave Long 63rd, Dillon Kirton 77th, 90th) v WASA 0
Westside Superstarz 2 (Troy Thompson 64th pen, Kevon Piper 86th) v Santa Rosa 1 (Jovan Rochford 55th pen)
Phoenix 2 (Darren Mitchell 11th, Delroy Fraser 32nd) v Siparia Spurs 0
Real Maracas 2 (Og 72nd, Pernell Schultz 81st) v Club Sando 1 (Og 28th)
Standings
Teams Pld W D L F A Pts
WASA 21 13 4 4 28 17 43
Westside 21 12 4 5 43 30 40
Joe Public 20 10 8 2 33 16 38
Stokely Vale 20 8 6 6 38 27 30
Phoenix 20 9 2 9 28 25 29
Siparia 21 8 4 9 33 34 28
Santa Rosa 21 7 6 8 34 30 27
Maracas 20 6 8 6 27 28 26
D/Force 21 7 5 9 31 34 26
Eagles Utd 21 4 8 9 20 35 20
Club Sando 20 5 4 12 28 28 19
Biche Utd 21 3 5 13 27 64 14