La Clery retained the Saint Semi-Professional Premier League title in front of a packed house at the Soufrière Stadium, defeating Vieux Fort South on National Day, December 13.
Vieux Fort South, last year’s Tier 2 champions, faced a La Clery side riding high after a dominant 2024 season, aiming to cap off another successful campaign. The two teams had finished in the top two positions in the league heading into the playoffs, with the Southerners the only team to beat La Clery in the preliminary round. Vieux Fort South held firm to secure a 3–1 victory against a stubborn Gros Islet team in the semifinals, while La Clery got past Canaries with a 2–1 scoreline.
There were no clear-cut chances in the early stages following the 8 PM kickoff. The stalemate was broken at the start of the second half due to a defensive mistake, with Vieux Fort’s Obafemi Poyotte pouncing and slotting the ball into an empty net in the 47th minute. However, La Clery equalised in the 58th minute through Milan Jules following a corner.
There was an extended pause in the game due to a commotion in the stands, leading to some 15 minutes of stoppage time, which still could not separate the two teams. The game went straight to penalties, with La Clery emerging 4-3 victors and walking away with the winning trophy, medals and the $EC30,000 purse.
After the final, La Clery captain Devon St. Prix said his team was playing for “more than just the game”. La Clery had to deal with the loss of teammate Ajani Hippolyte, who passed away tragically earlier in the year. St. Prix dedicated the victory to Hippolyte.
