It’s only taken one game for the new kids on the block to make their presence felt in the Barbados Football Association’s (BFA) Premier League.
Newly promoted Kickstart Rush announced themselves on the big stage by blanking title contenders Ellerton 2-0 at the Wildey Astro Turf on Sunday.
Ethan Taylor scored in the 15th minute with a marvelous left-footed strike from inside the 18-yard box to give Kickstart a 1-0 lead before Nathan McCollin’s skillful finish in the 67th minute, evading two Ellerton defenders, gave the newcomers a morale boosting win over last year’s Premier League runners-up.
Winning coach Renaldo Gilkes was full of praise for his young charges, who were promoted after finishing second in the Division One competition last season.
Kickstart Rush goalscorer Ethan Taylor (left) is tracked by Ellerton_s Jaheim Headley. (Photo by Zahir Motara)
“Credit to the boys, I think they put a shift in. It was by no means a walkover. As you know Ellerton has been one of the top teams in the island for over a decade now, so I believe it is the right mark to start on, our very first time in the Premiership.
“I’ve been in the Premier League before so I’ve been preparing them mentally more so than anything else to get ready for the Premier League because it is very, very different from Division One and they’ve seen that,” Gilkes said.
“Credit to the boys for earning the win. I think the performance outdid the result because the boys performed commendably to give the club its first three points in the Premier League.”
Meanwhile, defending champions Weymouth Wales made a successful start to their title defense by dismantling Paradise 4-0.
Ackeel Applewhaite opened the scoring in the 10th minute, before goals from Andre Applewhaite (25’), Nadre Butcher (45’) and Kemar Headley in the 59th minute completed the rout.
In the Women’s Super Cup final, Paradise Women overcame arch rivals Weymouth Wales Women 1-0 courtesy of a 27th minute goal by Shanelle Als. (RB)
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