By Neto Baptiste
Old Road FC were the lone victors in the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association’s (ABFA) Premier Division on Sunday, picking up a crucial 3-0 victory over a struggling Five Islands FC at the Antigua Recreation Grounds (ARG) on Sunday.
Contesting the first game of a triple-header, Old Road had goals from Armando Curuneaux, Seaquen Millington and Rashawn Shaw, who scored in minutes 16, 39 and 70, respectively, to hand the former champions only their fourth victory in 11 showings.
The victory moves Old Road to 15 points and sixth in the 10-team standings as they seek to stay clear of the two-team relegation zone.
Coach Chesley Browne said his players showed incredible improvement in key areas.
“In the center of the park, I think they were more compact. I think they passed the ball around quite a bit and finishing
[scoring]
, I think that was one of our main concerns in not scoring the goals, so the finishing was definitely a big difference and the defence, to keep a clean sheet is very important,” he said.
Browne, who was recently elevated to head coach status following the departure of Vincent Samuel, said he is enjoying the new role.
“It is a great feeling to always be representing your community, and it’s an honour for me now to be the head coach of Old Road Football Club, and as you said, I’ve been around and people have always been telling me to take the job. It’s not that I didn’t want the job, but I just thought maybe time wasn’t right,” he said.
Five Islands, following what was their sixth loss in 10 outings, are second from bottom in the standings.
In Sunday’s feature contest, frontrunners, Grenades were held to a 1-1 draw by All Saints United. Antonio Joseph had given Grenades the advantage in minute 50 before Kwaizim Smith put United level on minute 72.
Grenades remain at the top of the standings, despite the draw, with 23 points while All Saints are eighth in the standings with 13 points.
In the other match played on Sunday, Greenbay Hoppers and Pigotts Bullets played to a 2-2 draw. Yoandir Puga Estevez scored both goals for Hoppers while Shamari Dyer and Rajiel Parchment each scored once for Bullets.
Hoppers lie second in the standings with 20 points while Bullets are seventh with 14 points.