Two of the top four teams in the upper tier of the Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League suffered setbacks over the weekend at the Philip Marcellin Ground in Vieux Fort. Gros Islet suffered their first loss in three games, whilst league leaders Mabouya Valley were held to a draw. Canaries and Vieux Fort South earned their first wins.
Choiseul secured all three points against Gros Islet, through first-half goals from Darrel Francis and Hanif Antoine. An 81st-minute penalty conversion from Jahlil Evans was insufficient to avoid the upset. Gros Islet lost just once in nine regular-season games last term. This was Choiseul’s first win this season, and they are eighth of 10 teams.
Dennery also had but one loss in the league’s inaugural season. But on Saturday, they fell to their second loss, edged by Canaries in a five-goal thriller. Jamie Prospere gave Dennery a lead in the 12th minute. Elias Jones equalised for Canaries, then McArthur Louis put them ahead from the penalty spot just three minutes later. Cassius Joseph netted an insurance goal in the 64th, meaning that Denilson Jones’ 89th-minute marker was just a consolation for Dennery.
Mabouya Valley had scored eight goals and let in just two en route to the top of the table before the break for Saint Lucia Carnival. Bottom-of-the-table South Castries had let in five and scored just once in back-to-back losses.
But South Castries got on the scoreboard first, Kallis Mondesir scoring in the 55th minute. An 80th-minute Canius Sandiford penalty denied South Castries their first win and gave the league leaders a share of the points.
The final match of the weekend saw the home team, Vieux Fort South, continue their climb up the standings, with a clinical win over Soufriere. Shawn Alfred broke the deadlock in the 70th minute, and Shayan Lionel sealed the victory in the 83rd minute.
Gros Islet, Canaries, and Vieux Fort South, fourth, fifth, and sixth in the standings, each have a win, a loss, and a draw. Defending champions La Clery and 2024 runners-up Central Castries were idle at the weekend. They both have two wins from their first two matches, sitting just behind Mabouya Valley.
A packed weekend of Premier League football is in prospect in Dennery. Soufrière play Mabouya Valley on Friday. Saturday, Gros Islet take on Vieux Fort South, and Canaries will clash with Central Castries. On Sunday, it will be South Castries versus La Clery, and Choiseul against Dennery.
