A five-game weekend slate in Tier 1 of the Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League saw leaders Vieux Fort South and second-placed Dennery maintain their pace with wins, whilst two-time defending champions La Clery lost, and Canaries were held to a surprise draw.
VFS strengthened their position at the summit on Saturday with a 3-0 win over understrength La Clery at the Soufriere Stadium. Against a team missing multiple players on national duty, Saviola Elva’s 23rd-minute salvo gave the leaders a 1-0 halftime advantage.Â
Shan Alfred doubled the lead in the 75th minute before Elva scored his second four minutes into stoppage time (90’+4) to confirm the result for Jamil Joseph’s men and increase the gap between the southerners and the champions.
Second-placed Dennery kept abreast in Saturday’s second encounter, defeating reigning Tier 2 champions Anse La Raye 4-2. Elijah Joseph put Dennery ahead in the 11th minute, but Javon Wilson equalised for Anse La Raye in the 26th. Joseph scored again in the 45th minute to restore the lead before the break.Â
Dennery substitute Shervius Oculi struck in the 70th, just four minutes after taking the pitch. He added another in the 85th to stretch the Dennery lead, whilst Dahmani Berthier scored for Anse La Raye in the 74th.
On Sunday, Canaries lost ground on the frontrunners after being held to a 2-2 draw by Central Castries. The men from the capital, languishing in the relegation zone, built an early two-goal lead through Messiah Pinel in the eighth minute and Rasheed Eugene in the 10th minute. Canaries responded through Dhirv Jn Baptiste in the 14th minute.
The game meandered back and forth through the second half, with the embattled Castries unit finally succumbing in the 87th minute when McCathur Louis found the net with the equaliser.Â
In Sunday’s late fixture, Gros Islet defeated Soufriere 3-0, despite finishing the match with nine men. After a scoreless first half, Ridel Stanislaus scored in the 51st and 58th minutes, followed by a 60th-minute penalty conversion from Jahlil Evans. Gros Islet had Aaron Richard sent off for a second caution in the 60th minute, and Raphael Joseph was also dismissed for a second yellow card four minutes into added time (90’+4).
The weekend programme began on Friday evening with Vieux Fort North securing a 2-1 win over Mabouya Valley. Riquelme Elva scored in the 32nd and 69th minutes for Vieux Fort North, while Torien Joseph provided the lone reply for Mabouya Valley in the 74th minute.
After 11 rounds of competition, VFS are on 21 points, with Dennery on 19. Canaries and La Clery are joint third with 18 points, Canaries enjoying the better goal difference. Gros Islet have moved into fifth on 16 points, one ahead of Soufriere and Vieux Fort North. Anse La Raye and Central Castries are in danger of relegation on 10 points, and Mabouya Valley’s campaign is on the rocks with nine points and just two wins to date.
