The race for the 2023-24 National League Championship is heating up, with Wolues FC and the Islanders putting present league leaders Virgin Gorda United under intense pressure.
Having won five from six games on one end and six consecutive games on the other, both teams are making their mark on the competition, with one point separating the top three teams in the standings.
Presently, VG United lead the standing with 28 points with Wolues second with 27 points and Islanders third with 26 points.
In a hard-fought encounter against arch-rivals Sugar Boys FC, the Wolues secured a thrilling 3-2 victory. Hugo Costa Liziario opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, but Sugar Boys responded with goals from Alejandro Sanchez and Derol Redhead to lead 2-1 at halftime. A late comeback saw Marcus Robinson levelling the game in the 81st minute, and Liziario’s second goal in added time (90th +2) secured the victory.
Liziario’s brace also propelled him to a two-goal lead over Oswort Holder in the Golden Boot race, with 16 goals to Holder’s 14.
Wolues’ team manager, Nick Messum, reflected on the match, stating, “We dominated the majority of the first half and regrouped in the second half after some early pressure from Sugar Boys. The winner coming late on was a testament to our determination.”
The Islanders continued their resurgence with a 2-1 victory over Lion Heart FC on Saturday, with goals from Rogel Noel and Oswort Holder. Coach Fitzroy Daley praised his team’s performance, emphasizing their control of the game from the early stages and the effectiveness of their possession-based strategy.
Meanwhile, Panthers FC showcased signs of improvement by defeating Positive FC 5-1. Loic Simon scored twice, with Prevell Asson, Vanrick Delpesche, and Marcus Butler also finding the net. Positive FC managed a late consolation goal by Nicardo Dixon in the added time of the game.
The Manager of Panthers, Stany Francis, expressed satisfaction with the three points but voiced concern about the team’s wasteful finishing. “We wasted too many goal-scoring opportunities, which could hurt us against bigger teams. We accept the 3 points and move forward to other challenges,” commented Francis.
Looking ahead, the excitement continues with Islanders facing Panthers on Saturday, March 9, at 8:30 p.m., while on Sunday, March 10, Positive FC takes on One Love FC at 6:00 p.m., followed by Rebels FC versus Sugar Boys FC at 8:30 p.m. at Greenland Football Field.
