Mabouya Valley extended their lead at the top of the table, La Clery cruised past South Castries, and Vieux Fort South stunned Gros Islet in Tier 1 of the Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League over the weekend. Five games produced 23 goals at the Philip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort.
In the previous round of play, Mabouya were held to a draw for the first time. But the league leaders grabbed all three points against Soufriere with a Claudio Joseph goal on the stroke of halftime, and an important Kervon Edward marker less than 20 minutes from time. That second goal proved crucial, as Jahzani Henry pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 84th minute, but it was too little, too late, as the Valley boys maintained first place.
Hot on their heels and yet to lose or draw in this campaign are the defending Tier 1 champions, La Clery. They brushed newly promoted South Castries aside 4-0, Uhann Degazon netting once in the first half, and twice in the second, after Malik “Showtime” St Prix had opened his account with a powerful header. South Castries remain winless at the bottom of the table.
Tier 2 champions Vieux Fort South, on the other hand, earned their second win and moved into the top half of the standings with a statement come-from-behind win over Gros Islet. Josh George got the northerners off to a dream start just one minute in, but the home side maintained their composure, Obafemi Poyotte scoring twice and Taj Constantine once to make it 3-1 at halftime. Ridel Stanislas pulled one back in the 56th minute with a gorgeous free kick, but after a raft of substitutions for both teams, Kern Joseph extended the lead with four minutes left in regulation. Josh George got another for Gros Islet, but Moses Henry ended the contest in time added on.
Against Canaries, third-placed Central Castries spurned the opportunity to keep pace with Mabouya Valley and La Clery. The men from the capital benefited from an own goal inside the first 15 minutes, but just before the half-hour mark, Pernal Williams was shown a second yellow, reducing Central to 10 men. National striker Donavan Jn Baptiste scored the equaliser for Canaries in the 56th minute, but they were unable to press their man advantage, and the fixture ended 1-1.
Dennery had been eyeing their first win, but Choiseul’s Hanif Antoine seized a point in time added on to cap a six-goal thriller. Jarvel Faucher put Dennery ahead in the fifth, only for Darrell Francis to answer just a minute later. Ajani Louis put Choiseul ahead, and Elijah Joseph made it 2-2 at the interval. Torian Joseph gave Dennery the upper hand once more, only for Antoine to spoil the party.
