National striker Andrus Ti Pry Remy gave defending champions La Clery a winning start to the new Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League season on Tuesday evening.
They defeated Canaries 1-0 in a Tier 1 game at Mindoo Phillip Park where fans were also treated to the first hat-trick of the season, when Mabouya Valley thrashed Choiseul 5-0.
La Clery’s curtain-raiser was delayed by adverse weather at the weekend. But after winning three titles in 2024, they were clearly chomping at the bit for the new season.
Remy, a Marchand native, got the lone goal on his former home ground. The 31-year-old received a pass from midfield, powered through an attempted tackle just outside the 18-yard box and slotted past the advancing custodian into an empty net.
It stayed that way for the duration, a virtual repeat of last year’s fixture when Shaquille Degazon netted in the 30th minute to give La Clery victory. Remy, the third-leading scorer in last year’s SPFL, with eight goals in seven games, now has 36 goals for La Clery in as many games.
The Valley boys, meanwhile, rocketed to the top of the league on goal difference, thanks to a hat-trick from Maius Stanislaus. National midfielder Brandon Sandiford got his team off and running in the 22nd minute of play, with an assist from Stanislaus. The provider turned receiver three minutes before the half, stroking the ball into the back of the net from the centre of the box.
Five minutes after the interval, the Togetherness Youth forward was at it again, giving his squad a 3-0 advantage. And he made it four in the 68th minute, before Alk Marquis put the icing on the cake with an 85th-minute goal.
This year, with 80 matches to be played in a double round-robin competition that will involve 10 venues, there is plenty of football yet to be played.
At the end of the first game day in Tier 1, Mabouya Valley are ahead on goal difference, followed by Gros Islet, Central Castries and La Clery. Dennery and Vieux Fort South played to a draw, and have one point each. Canaries, Soufrière, South Castries and Choiseul are yet to get their first points.
