Fresh off international duty, Garvin Reggie netted a late brace to rocket Dennery past defending champions La Clery and to the top of the table in Tier 1 of the Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League, after Round 12 weekend action at the Soufriere Stadium.
Dennery recovered from two goals down on Sunday night to edge La Clery 4-3 in a seven-goal contest. Yanic Noel opened the scoring for the champions in the eighth minute, and Baggio Edward doubled the advantage in the 52nd minute.Â
But Dennery mounted a second-half response through their substitutes, as Denilson Jones struck in the 73rd minute and Shaquelle William equalised in the 76th. Reggie’s pace then produced goals in the 78th and 83rd minutes to put Dennery ahead.Â
Sebastien Ribot pulled a goal back for La Clery in the 85th minute, but Dennery held on to claim the victory. The brace moved Reggie level with Noel at the top of the Tier 1 scoring charts on eight goals each.
Dennery took the summit on goals scored after former leaders Vieux Fort South were held to a 1-1 draw by Mabouya Valley in Sunday’s opening encounter. Mabouya Valley went ahead in the 38th minute courtesy of substitute Maius Stanislaus, who had entered the match in the 19th minute. Hosea Mathurin equalised for Vieux Fort South in the 57th minute.Â
The results leave Dennery and Vieux Fort South level on 22 points from six wins and four draws, with identical goal differences of plus nine. Dennery are ahead, having scored 25 goals to Vieux Fort South’s 21.
Canaries maintained pressure on the top two with a 2-1 win over Vieux Fort North, to sit third on 21 points. Canaries built an early lead through Alex Longville in the 10th minute and Robert Regis in the 12th minute, before Riquelme Elva replied for Vieux Fort North in the 44th.Â
The match saw four dismissals in the 55th minute following a confrontation. Kingsley Henry of Canaries saw a second yellow card. Canaries substitute Kevin Joseph and Vieux Fort North players Steve Darcheville and Akim Augustin were all shown straight red cards for violent conduct.
In Saturday’s curtain-raiser, Gros Islet and Central Castries played to a 1-1 draw. Messiah Pinel gave Central Castries the lead in the 49th minute, but substitute Curtisho Stephen equalised for Gros Islet in the 86th.Â
The round began on Friday evening, Soufriere recording a 2-0 win over Anse La Raye, decided by late strikes from Lester Joseph in the 84th minute and Darrel Francis three minutes into added time (90’+3). Anse La Raye head coach Sommers Augustin was sent off in the 87th minute for dissent following a caution a minute earlier. The win moved Soufriere into fourth place on 18 points, ahead of La Clery on goal difference.
