By Neto Baptiste
The struggle continued for former champions Greenbay Hoppers in the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) Premier Division on Sunday, as the Grays Green team crashed to its eighth loss in nine matches, going under to Old Road 2-0 at the FA’s Technical Center on the Sir Sydney Walling Highway.
Contesting the feature match of a double-header, Old Road dominated the contest from start to finish with goals on either side of the half. Gisner Joseph handed Old Road the lead in minute 18 before Shavorn Phillip secured all three points for Old Road, themselves former champions, when he hit the back of the net in minute 53.
The win lifts Old Road to 22 points from nine showings and third in the standings while Hoppers remain second from bottom with just three points after the same number of showings.
Tigers Terrorize City
In Sunday’s opening clash, Potters Tigers defeated Green City FC 3-1 to rally to their third win in nine matches and into the eighth position in the 14 team standings.
Tigers had goals from Mark Portsmouth in minute 11, Ordel Samuel in minute 53 and Keon Greene in minute 85 as they move to 10 points from their nine showings. City’s lone goal of the contest came from Ranjae Williams who scored in minute 75. Green City are third from bottom with just four points.
Grenades outgun Bullets
On Saturday, championship hopefuls Grenades FC pulled the pin on Bullets, blanking the Pigotts men 2-0 in the feature clash. Luis Labrada continued his fine run in the competition, putting Grenades ahead on minute 37. D’Jarie Sheppard put the icing on the cake when he scored in the 85th.
The win lifts Grenades to 23 points from nine showings and propels them to the top of the standings. They have however played a game more that defending champions All Saints United who are on 22 points from eight matches. Bullets lie sixth in the standings with 16 points.
Attacking Saints stun Garden Stars
Newcomers Attacking Saints were shocking one-nil winners over Garden Stars also on Saturday. The lone goal of the contest came in minute 70 when Ellsworth Mack delivered the welcomed strike to put the All Saints men ahead.
The win lifts Saints to 11 points and to the halfway mark in the standings at seventh position while for Garden Stars, it was only their second defeat in 10 matches. Stars remains on 29 points and still in the top five despite the loss.
John Hughes get crucial three points
John Hughes, in only their second year in the Premier Division, picked up a crucial 3-1 win over Five Islands in Saturday’s opening clash.
Devote Looby led the charge for John Hughes with a double, netting in minutes 52 and 85 while Deno Bryan had drawn them level in minute 24 from the penalty spot. Samuel Semper had put former champions Five Islands ahead in the 16th minute.
The win lifts John Hughes to six points from 10 showings and 11th in the standings while Five Islands remain on 10 points from eight outings.
