By Dominique R. Stowe
GTM Bequia registered their first win of the season, beating the high-flying JaBelle FC 2 goals to 1 in a very exciting upset at the Clive Tannis Playing Field in Bequia as the SVGFF/Hairoun Beer National Club Championship continued on Sunday.
Doing the trick for GTM Bequia were Kamal Olliviere, in the 40th minute, and Keean McFee in 45th minute.
Kevin Warren scored the only goal for Jebelle FC — in the 75th minute.
At Campden Park, bottom of the table North Leeward sank even further after failing to turn up for their game against Toni Store Jugglers, who collected 3 points and 3 goals for turning up and not playing.
At Victoria Park, after they were beaten in their first two games and had a close finish in their third, BESCO Pastures seem to be improving slowly as they overcame the youthful, inexperience Layou 3 goals to 2.
In the second of the double-header, the last set of games played at the Victoria Park until after Independence, System 3 (which recently signed a sponsorship deal with Comsport) defeated Guardian General Hope 3 goals to 2.
On Saturday, at Campden Park, both teams from South Leeward met, with the favourites, Camdonia Chelsea, drawing nil-nil with the underdogs and newcomers, Parkside Rollers.
At Sion Hill Playing Field, the home side easily beat the experienced GTM Prospect by 3 goals to nil.
At Brighton Playing Field, Avenues United, who started poorly this season, seems to be picking up some steam, beating SV United from the Georgetown Area 3 goals to nil.
The game started with both teams battling for control of the midfield.
The breakthrough came in the 11th minute, when Myron “Left Eye” Samuel netted. Samuel was fed through one-on-one, but the goalkeeper was very late in his challenge and carelessly clattered into Samuel. Lamont Hector stepped up and placed the ball to the right of the keeper, who guessed correctly, but couldn’t reach the ball in time. Both teams were playing intense football with little chances, but the overlapping left back provided a perfect cross after getting the better of the right back only for the onrushing, ever present Samuel to volley home from just outside the penalty area with precision in the 32nd minute to give Avenues more breathing space before halftime.
After the break, SV United came out positive, but Avenues held the midfield together with one-two passes, with veteran midfielder Lamont Hector pulling the strings along with Damal “Ratty” Francis.
In the 69th minute, Wendell Cuffy made it 3 goals to nil with a well-timed run played through by Damal Francis to put the icing on the cake.
Today, Monday, the SVG Senior Men’s Football team will begin camping at the newly commissioned goal project facility at Brighton Playing Field in preparation for their semi-finals group stage of the Caribbean Cup, to be held in Guadeloupe Oct. 8 to 12.
The team will leave St. Vincent on Oct. 7 and will play their first game on Oct. 8, against Guadeloupe at 7 p.m.
The other teams in the group are Martinique and Curacao.