Conaree maintain Premier Division lead; Challengers rooted at the bottom

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Island Auto Kactus Conaree FC have maintained their lead at the top of the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association’s (SKNFA) Digicel Premier Division, despite a goalless draw with second place Hobson Enterprise Garden Hotspurs FC.

In a physical encounter at the Warner Park Football Stadium on Sunday (Feb. 9) Conaree looked to extend their lead over Spurs, who suffered their first defeat of the season in the previous game and were looking to bounce back with a victory over the team that overtook them in the standing.

The game’s first goal-scoring opportunity came following a successful run by Dhajal Kelly who got behind the Conaree defenders and thumped the ball towards the goal only to be denied by a brilliant save from the Goalkeeper.

The physicality of the game seemed to get the better of the Spurs players, forcing them into making two substitutions due to injuries before the half time break. 

The second half followed in similar vein as the first with a physical and fast-paced game with both sides being wasteful in their opportunities.

The game ended without a single goal being scored despite a late onslaught by Spurs. With the game drawn, each team walked away with one point each.

During an earlier game, ManTab trampled St. Thomas/Trinity Strikers 6-1 with one brace each being achieved by ManTab’s Eldean Huggins and Kirae Jarvis.

Huggins got the opening goal in the 8th minute with a brilliant flick with the outside of his boot leaving the goalkeeper with little chance of pulling off a save.

St. Thomas/Trinity Strikers’ Lance Lewis brought the game back on level terms in the 41st minute when he successfully converted a penalty. 

ManTab’s lead was however restored just before half time when a sublime strike by Jarvis which passed the goalkeeper like a bullet out of a gun.

Jarvis added a second goal in the 50th minute which was followed by goals by Kelvin Taylor and Denville Francis.

The onslaught ended with Huggins’ second goal to cap off a brilliant display.

SPD United came from a goal behind to defeat KFC Trinity/Challengers United 4-2.

Following a goalless first half, Challengers took an unexpected lead through Clyde Herbert in the 48th minute which was quickly equaled by SPD’s Evansroy Barnes who scored a goal in the 54th minute.

Two minutes later Alphonso Murray bagged SPD’s second goal which was followed by Sean Liburd’s 62nd minute strike.

Challengers mounted another challenge when Herbert added a second goal but was dealt a blow when Barnes added a second goal, the fourth for SPD.Challengers remain rooted at the bottom of the SKNFA Premier Division table with a paltry two points.