The race to make the Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League playoffs is heating up, whilst the race to avoid relegation remains very much alive. Gros Islet and Central Castries played to a draw on Tuesday night, November 26, at the Francis Baba Lastic Grounds in Gros Islet, leaving the men from the capital barely holding on to a playoff spot.
Over the weekend, Vieux Fort South stunned the champions La Clery, winning 2-0 with goals from Saviola Elva in the 23rd minute and Shawn Alfred in the 90th. That loss was academic for the leaders, who have already clinched the top spot in the regular season with 37 points and two games in hand. But it boosted Vieux Fort South to second place. Playing their first season in Tier 1, the men from the south are now locked in at that position on 33 points from their 18 matches.
On Tuesday, Gros Islet and Central Castries, then third and fourth in the 10-team league, were both eager to seal qualification for the knockout rounds. Baggio Edward gave the home team the advantage in first-half injury time, and Shaquan Nelson evened things up for the city boys in the 51st. It was the second time this season that these two have played to a draw.
Tuesday’s result was significant, however. It was the last game for Central, who are hanging on to fourth place by the skin of their teeth, with 26 points from their 18 games. Gros Islet are not yet locked in, but they are also on 26 points, with two games remaining, and now need just one point to clinch a playoff berth.
Lurking are Mabouya Valley and Canaries, on 25 and 23 points, respectively. Their last game will be against one another, though, and that game could be decisive. The once high-flying valley boys have two games left, the first of which is against La Clery. They must win one of their last two at a minimum to make the final four.
Canaries have only that game against Mabouya Valley remaining. A win would tie them with Central Castries in the final standings, if La Clery can beat Mabouya Valley. Head-to-head records could possibly dictate the final spot, with Canaries winning one of the two encounters against Central and drawing the other.
At the other end of the table, Soufrière beat Choiseul 3-1 at the weekend in a clash between the teams placed eighth and ninth. The teams in ninth and 10th after the regular season will be relegated to the second division of domestic football.
In their penultimate fixture, Choiseul took a big step towards avoiding a drop to Tier 2, beating already-relegated South Castries 2-0 on Tuesday night. A brace from Ajani Louis on either side of the halftime interval consigned South Castries to their 13th loss from 18 games. They have allowed 46 goals this season, while scoring just 11.
The job is not yet done for Choiseul, however. They are in ninth, but with a better goal difference than eighth-placed Soufrière. Choiseul needs at least a draw in their last game, against frontrunners Gros Islet, in order to stay in the top tier next season.
