MRFC Old Road United Jets and SOL IAS Conaree FC threw down gauntlets to the rest of the SKNFA Premier League, with resounding victories on Sunday at the Warner Park.
Conaree FC dismissed Elco Ltd Security Forces 3-0 in the early kick off at 2pm with goals from Quanieki Clarke in the third, Nicquan Phipps in the 53rd and Ilivity Pemberton 76th.
In the day’s other match, Tiquanny Williams signaled his intent to become the league’s top scorer for a second straight season, scoring a hat-trick while leading Old Road to a 4-0 victory over St. Peters.
Williams scored in the second, a penalty kick in the 24th and added a third in the 29th in the rout while Niquan Browne scored from the spot in the 65th.
Coach Alexis Morris of Old Road, said the manner of his team’s victory is a message sent to the rest of the league that Old Road is a team to be reckoned with.
“It’s a step in the right direction and I must say, definitely it’s a statement for the other teams that O R, as I said before, is a team
to be reckoned with,” he said, adding that they have been practicing since December and are looking forward to a great season.
Meanwhile, Coach Austin “Dico” Huggins said a makeshift defensive unit was the reason for his team’s poor performance, especially in the first half after missing out on some of his best players because of injury.
“I think we were too relaxed. We had to play with a makeshift defense. Today (Sunday) was the first time that some of those guys played because we are now faced with a lot of injuries,” Huggins said. “We had to make the changes (Sunday) because from (Saturday’s) practice, we learned that some players would not be in because of injury. I think they did creditably well in the second half.”
In Saturday's games, defending SKNFA Premier League champions S. L. Horfords St. Paul’s United brushed aside Hobson Enterprises Garden Hotspurs 3-1 for their first win of the season on Saturday night.
In the second match of a double-header at Newtown, Ordell Flemming put St Paul’s ahead in the10th minute with Keithroy Freeman adding a second nine minutes later.
Despite having Jamal Jeffers sent off in the 53rd for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, St Paul added a third via Malik Clarke’s the 68th minute strike before Jabez Dorsett scored a consolation in the 83rd.
Manager of St. Paul’s Austin Lewis said the team needed to make some adjustments after last week’s 0-0 draw with Old Road and was pleased with the performance Saturday night.
Meanwhile, Spurs Assistant Coach Rohan Browne, said the team’s preparation for the match was affected following an incident in their community during the week.
In the opening match on Saturday, Newtown United emerged victors in their clash with Jones Group Sandy Point FC during a tension-filled in which each team had a player sent off.
Sandy Point's Jahlyan Burt and Leranje Liburd of Newtown were both shown red cards for violent conduct in the 23rd minute.
In terms of actual football Kennedy Rodriquez opened the scoring in the 11th minute from the penalty spot before Yohannes Mitcham doubling the lead just before the interval.
Anthony Alves pulled one back for Sandy Point in the 63rd minute.
Coach Anthony “Nets” Isaac of Newtown, was understandably pleased with outcome.
“We see the stuff (we practice) coming out in the game. It’s not a hundred percent, but we are getting there,” he said.
Shane Jeffers, the Assistant Manager of the Sandy Point FC, believed his team was competitive but failed to find a second goal.
“We basically gave ourselves a chance in the second half. We had to make some changes—two red cards in the first half on either team. A few adjustments from the coach in the second half and we bore fruit to that,” Jeffers said.
SOLIAS Conaree FC started off their 2023 SKNFA Premier League campaign with a 2-0 victory over St. Peters FC at the Verchilds playing field on Saturday evening.
Byron Phillip opened the scoring in the 36th minute with Anthony Grant applying the second in the 87th minute to seal the victory. Coach Al Richards said after he was pleased with the win despite his team not performing to its best.
“Congrats to my team for winning a 2-nil victory,” he said.
“My thoughts on the game are simple; the first game of the season, we didn't really get it right, but we got the victory."
Meanwhile, Coach Austin Dico Huggins of St. Peters said his team failed to take the chances they created.
“I think we need to be more lethal in the attacking third of the field and we need to concentrate more on the job, especially on the game plan that is laid out," Huggins said.
"That's all we need to work on and get more involved mentally; because it is important that we remember everything that we need to do, in which area of the field that we need to do it and we need to play harder, more intense; a lot more running off the ball, so therefore we need to get fitter."
In the second match of the day, defending champions S.L. Horfords St. Paul’s United were held to a 0-0 draw by home side MFCR Old Road United Jets.
Both teams created few chances but failed to make them count.
In the matches played on Friday (Feb. 10), S-Krave Newtown United and Hobson Enterprises Garden Hotspurs both recorded their first wins of the new season.
Newtown brushed aside Hotsprings Bath United 5-1 with goals coming from Sylvester Caines in the 13th minute and D'Jaun Warner in the 35th minute.
Leranje Liburd added a third 56th minute and Kennedy Rodriguez made it 4-0 from the penalty spot in the 59th. Akimba Lawrence scored the fifth in the 87th minute before Phillron Lavia got a consolation from the spot 90th minute.
Anthony “Nets” Isaac, who has returned as the coach for Newtown and he was happy with Friday’s result.
On the other hand, Coach of Bath Alex Claxon, said the players are finding their groove, seeing this was the first match, but promised some adjustments for the next match.
Meanwhile, Spurs edged newly promoted Jones Group Sandy Point FC 2-1.
Steve Archibald opened the scoring in the 19th minute with Valmon Jeffers adding a second from the penalty spot in the 60th minute.
Shaquan Pemberton scored a consolation in stoppage time.
Spurs Head Coach Steven Brown said the win was a good one, considering the challenges they endured with match conditions. “We executed well enough. There were some challenges that we faced coming out here; the size of the field was a bit smaller so we couldn’t execute our game plan to the fullest, but nonetheless, the guys adjusted enough,” he said.
“We were able to capitalize on our chances and scored a few goals. We got the three points, which is what we came here for.”
The upcoming Premier League fixtures this weekend will be played in Cayon, Newtown and Warner Park.
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