By Neto Baptiste
Swetes FC and Ottos Rangers were winners in the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) Premier Division on Monday at the body’s technical centre on the Sir Sydney Walling Highway.
Playing in the first match of a double-header, Swetes picked up their seventh victory in 17 showings, when they edged Cedar Grove Blue Jays 2-1 to move to 25 points and sixth in the standings. Shackwon Simon and Roy Gregory both scored once for the victors with Simon hitting the back of the net in the 50th minute, while Gregory slotted home from the penalty spot in minute 89 to clinch the match.
Jamour Martin scored the lone goal for Blue Jays in minute 56 from the penalty spot. The loss condemns Blue Jays to the Premier Division vs First Division playoffs at the end of the league where they will battle teams finishing third and fourth in the First Division in hopes of maintaining their status in the top flight.
Meanwhile, Ottos Rangers defeated the relegated Five Islands FC by a 2-1 margin in the night’s feature clash.
National striker Junior Benjamin put Rangers ahead with his first of two goals on the stroke of half time. Samuel Semper restored hope for Five Islands with a 62nd minute strike, but Benjamin secured all three points for Rangers with an 89th minute conversion.
Rangers move to 25 points after 17 matches and seventh in the standings while Five Islands, on three points and second from bottom on the 16-team standings, officially joins Liberta Blackhawks as the two relegated teams.
