It was a goal fest in the NBGC Premier League on the weekend with a total of 26 goals scored among the five matches on the cards.

The Premier League moved to the NBGC Technical Center on Friday June 21, when Azul Cayon Rockets crushed demoted Trafalgar Southstars 5-0.

The goals came from Devontay Carty in the 24^th minute, Vinceroy Nelson in the 31^st minute, Evansroy Barnes one minute before halftime, Jahmarli Connor in the 63^rd minute and Shaqkeem Butler six minutes later.

After the match, Coach Anthony Nets Isaac of Cayon said he is satisfied with the win, though he was hoping to score more goals in the event goal difference plays a role in the playoff positions.

“At training and coming to the game, we decided we had to get at least seven to eight goals. Because remember the second-place team, which is (Old Road) have been scoring goals regularly, and they are way ahead in goals. But for us to catch up, depending on how the table stand, we want to be there when it comes to goal averages...we didn't get the amount that we wanted, but we're satisfied still,” Isaac said.

Manager of Trafalgar Southstars, Akins Phillip said with his team relegated to Division 1, he is aiming for his team to earn some points before the end of the season.

“The plan for the rest of the season is to try and get some points. We can't leave without getting at least three or six points. We're going to try our best,” Phillip said.

On Saturday June 22, DBSKN St. Peters FC, edged Honda Newtown United 3-2, to maintain their spot in the Final Four playoff race.

St. Peters took the lead in the sixth minute through Devion Harvey before, eight minutes into the second half, Jabari Isaac equalized for Newtown.

Shaquille Barzey and Dionis Stephens scored in the 62^nd and 68^th minutes, respectively, to put St. peters up 3-1 before Shamar Powell gave Newtown hope of a comeback with eight minutes to go.

In Saturday’s second game, S.L Horsfords St. Paul’s United came from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw with MFCR Old Road United Jets.

Goals from Tiquanny Williams in the 34^th minute and Geovanni Lake four minutes later gave Old Road a 2-0 lead going into the halftime interval.

Keithroy Freeman cut the lead in half for St. Paul’s in the 67^th minute before Petrez Williams secured a point for his side in the 90^th minute.

Captain of Old Road Jets Nequan Browne explained that the team lost concentration and managed the game poorly which led to them giving up the 2-0 lead.

“We lost concentration in the game. Time management was a problem with us. We should have managed the ball better, move it around better, instead of playing into St. Paul's hands. I just feel like the inexperience of the team, maybe took a toll on us. But we will regroup and come again,” Browne said.

Jamal Jeffers, goalkeeper for St. Paul’s spoke to his team’s resilience, which spurred them to walkway with a point from a losing position.

“A lot of fans know it and the community of St. Paul's knows that St. Paul don't go out without a fight. Many times, we have been in this position but we kept our cool. We concede two early goals but regardless, that's how football goes. We just have to keep calm, we just have to continue playing. Coach talked to us; we made some tactical changes and came out and played a way better second half and we managed to get away with a draw,” he said.

On Sunday June 23, Tropical Blossom Hotsprings Bath United made its claim for a spot in the playoffs when they defeated SKELEC Garden Hotspurs 2-1.

Spurs took the lead in the 23^rd minute though a Justin Claxton own goal before Aljay Newton equalized for Bath two minutes later.

Bath’s winning goal came from Jeremy Richards six minutes into the second half.

Richards was very satisfied with the performance of his teammates and the result of the match.

“I think we've had a desire to come and perform as a team. We have some goals to meet for the season and that has been our main focus. So, it was an important three points...and we move forward,” Richards said.

Spurs Coach George “Yellowman” Isaac said he is doing his best to motivate the players as they are facing the unprecedented situation of relegation from the premier league.

“That's a hard one, but I try my best every day to motivate these players every day in training. To work hard, to play hard, because the position we in, we’ve got to make sure we come out, but it’s just getting harder and harder,” Isaac said.

The final match of the weekend was an exciting nine goal thriller as defending champions Rams Village Superstars came from 1-0 down to win 5-4 against Conaree.

Village went up 3-1 at half time, with a brace by the league’s leading goal scorer Kimaree Rogers in the 23^rd and 36^th minutes and a goal from Dahjal Kelly in the 33^rd minute in response to a 20^th minute strike from Conaree’s Errol O’Loughlin.

Caaja Burnham made it 4-1 in the second half in the 58^th minute, but O’Loughlin led the Conaree fightback, rounding out his hat trick in the 70^th and 74^th minutes.

Samani Williams, however, extended Village’s lead in the 80th minute but Conaree, not to be outdone, scored a 4^th goal in the 7^th minute of stoppage time before the match ended 5-4.

Coach Stephen Clarke of Village said the win was a show of the heart and grit of his team, but they must do a better job defensively.

“Certain parts of how we play, especially in the first half, the chances we created, moments on the ball; it's been missing for quite a while. With that said though, giving up four goals, it was, I must say, uncalled for. We didn't see out the game,” Clarke commented.

Assistant Coach of Conaree Sven Korte, said despite the loss, he is proud of his players.

“I'm proud of my team. They've given everything. Congratulations to Rams Village Superstars. Great performance; the win is okay, because overall I think pass accuracy, speed of players, and bridging the midfield was definitely in their favor,” he said.

The NBGC Premier League is on a break this week due to the St. Kitts Music Festival, but the teams return to action in the first weekend of July at the NBGC Technical Center.

Security Forces FC have been promoted to the SKNFA Premier League after earning a narrow 3-2 win over KFC Trinity/Challengers United on Wednesday at the NBGC Technical Center in St. Peters in SKNFA Division 1 action. 

Dion Dolphin, Evansley Fahie and Dennis Phillip were the goal scorers for Security Forces in the 6^th, 31^st and 58^th minutes, respectively. Tyrone Grant and Cavid David led the fight for Trinity/Challengers. 

That match was followed by a 2-1 victory for Molineux over 607 Construction Lodge Patriots. Darren Brookes and Ronald Williams got the Molineux goals in the 22^nd and 38^th minutes, respectively, while Josh Liburd scored the lone goal for Lodge in the 89^th minute.

Molineux coach George “Kinta” Gilbert, who previously coached Security Forces, said he just recently took over this team and is looking forward in doing some great work with them.

“I have been working with this time for about maybe a week or so and a lot of work will have to be done with them. But eventually we will get there,” he said. “I am with this team now and we are going to work hard to implement what we want to implement and to become a better team. It’s a work in progress because I just started to work with the team,” Gilbert said. 

Wendell Nanton, a player with Lodge, said the team started out flat in the first half, but picked up momentum in the second half.

“We came out flat footed this evening. We are bit short on players in the first half but we maintain to keep our structure and to manage. Nevertheless we, were down 2-0. We came back, scored a goal in the second half. We had opportunities but going forward we have a lot of work to do on the pitch,” he said.

“I guarantee you next season Lodge Patriots will be a better and stronger team going forward,” he added. 

In other Division 1 results on Monday: Mantab defeated Conaree Fireball International 4-1. K’Jairn Liburd scored two goals for Mantab in the 19^th and 59^th minutes while the other goals came from Kimmel French in the 55^th minute and Wakamba Warner in the 5^th minute of stoppage time. Jolonni Huggins scored the lone goal for Conaree in the 52^nd minute.  

Meanwhile, Sandy Point FC edged TGE Dieppe Bay Eagles 1-0 on Thursday June 13^th. Dequan Joseph scored the winning goal in the 17^th minute.

In the night’s earlier match Saddlers United trounced Rivers of Living Water 4-0. The goals were scored by Kurt Mills, E Wattley, Darious Rawlins and Saeed Hanley in the 62^nd, 69^th, 73^rd and 3^rd minute of stoppage time respectively. SKNFA Division 1 continues next week.

Round two of the 2024 SKNFA Division 1 season got under way last week with wins for Fast Cash Saddlers United, Jones Group Sandy Point FC, Security Forces FC and Conaree Fireball International.

On Thursday at the NBGC Technical Center in St. Peters, Security Forces drubbed Rivers of Living Water FC 7-0.

Evanslie Fahie scored two goals in the 13^th and 37^th minutes while the other goas came from Everette Ritchen in the 34^th, David Joseph in the 57^th, Shane Clarke in the 60^th, Ronaldo Blake in the 73^rd and Shamar Douglas in the 86^th min.

In Thursday’s second match Lodge Patriots drew 1-1 with TGE Dieppe Bay Eagles.

Sair Morton scored for Lodge in the 54^th minute, while Jason Phipps equalized for Dieppe Bay in the 84^th minute. 

After the match, Coach of Lodge Leon Natta-Nelson praised his players for their execution on the pitch.

“I thought tonight, the first game of the second round, a better playing from the team…the movement on the ball and off the ball was wonderful in the first half,” Natta-Nelson said.

He blamed the goal they conceded on lack of focus.

“That has been our demise for the whole season,” he said, while expressing satisfaction with a point. He said the aim now is to beat teams they lost to in round one of the league.

“We had some developmental players who are just in the first and second year in the league. We have seen some improvement and we hope that we can regroup after this second round, we can go into next season but we will focus on one game at a time,” he said.

In the Tuesday games, Conaree Fireballs United secured a 2-1 win over Molineux before Jones Group Sandy Point drubbed KFC/Trinity Challengers United 7-0.

Leslian Dasent gave Conaree the lead in the 49^th minute before Kahml Wattley got the equalizer for Molineux with 16 minutes left in normal time.

I-Dee Caines then got the Conaree winner in the 96^th minute.

In the second game, goals from Deshawn Collins (7’), Diontre Eddy (15’, 45’) and Jahlyan Burnt (21’) meant Sandy Point went into the halftime interval with a comfortable 4-0 advantage.

They didn’t let up in the second half with goals from Troy Bassue in the 52^nd minute and Dequan Joseph in the 68^th minute making it 6-0 before Collins got his second goal of the contest in the 81^st minute to complete the day’s scoring.