Deacons Club have moved out of relegation hot water, snatching a narrow 1-0 win against Pride of Gall Hill when the Barbados Football Association Premier League continued on Saturday at Ellerton Ground in St. George.
Badly in need of those three points, Deacons, coached by Albert Mapp, have made decent progress in their recent matches but still have a long way to go.
The men from the Farm registered the lone goal in the 61st minute, scored by defender Santre Edwards with an easy finish from the 12-yard spot following a penalty awarded by centre referee Darian Scantlebury.
Gall Hill have given away a few penalties of late, and it continues to hurt them as they are in danger of sliding further down the standings, moving from the top of the standings at the beginning of the season to sixth with 13 points.
Paradise, with a well-played 3-0 result against Abrahams United Silver Sands in the doubleheader at Ellerton, have now moved into fifth place.
Ahead of the reigning kings from Carrington Village are undisputed champions Ensure Max Protein Weymouth Wales on 24 points, followed by Ellerton, University of the West Indies Blackbirds, and Brittons Hill in second place on 17 points. Paradise, after losing a few matches of late, currently occupies fifth place on 14 points, Gall Hill on 13 are sixth.
Paradise goalscorer Rojae ‘Messi’ Collins (left) struck the opening goal for Paradise Club as he took on Abrahams United Silver Sands defender Omar Harris.
During the nightcap match, Paradise, without a shadow of a doubt, should have had a goal in the 29th minute of the first half, but instead, in unbelievable fashion, Rojae ‘Messi’ Collins missed a sitter.
This stemmed following a brilliant save from Silver Sands goalkeeper Shemariah Batson to deny an earlier shot at goal. However, failure to glove the ball allowed Collins, in the right position, to take aim at a shot which was met by a little too much power and went over the top crossbar.
As expected, Paradise were in attacking mode, winning set pieces but not being able to convert. Similarly, Silver Sands, sitting in tenth place at the bottom of the table, made a few attempts at goal but found it difficult to score past Paradise’s defensive third. The first half ended in a goalless statement.
Paradise returned in the second half with venom, and dangerman Collins made up for his earlier error and gave the men from Dover the lead in the 71st minute. That was followed by another goal by Joshua Browne in the 79th minute, and Captain Jomo Harris polished off the night with a penalty successfully taken in the 90+1 minute.
The League continues Sunday evening with a triple header at the BFA AstroTurf in Wildey. (AS)
The post Deacons edge to safety, Paradise strike back appeared first on Barbados Today.
