Newtown lead Premier Division with weekend win

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - DEFENDING Digicel Premier Division champions Delphic Newton United have moved to the top of the table after a convincing victory over newcomers SPD United at the Warner Park Football Stadium.

Leaders Newtown easily walked away with three points from Saturday’s (June 1) match against promoted SPD, which squandered many scoring opportunities throughout the game.

From the onset, the underdogs seemed hungry and determined to follow up on last week’s win (their first) and upset the champions, but despite their good brand of football, they were unable to find the back of Newtown’s nets. 

Newtown’s three unanswered goals were enough to secure top spot and further cement their place in the top four.

Newtown’s usual dominance was however missing for most parts of the game, but the champs took full advantage of scoring opportunities and comfortably ensured that the ball found the back of the nets on three occasions.

Scoring for Delphic Newtown United was Oldain Powell who struck twice in the 12th and 37th minutes, and Kennise Henry of SPD who erringly scored for his opponents in his own goal in the 72nd minute. 

Yellow Cards were given to Iroy Jeffers of SPD in the 51st minute and a Red Card to Kennise Henry, also of SPD, in 87th minute.

Officials were Kimbel Ward, Mario Parry, O'Brien Clarke and James Matthew.

In the other Premier Division match also played at the same venue and on the same day, Harris Paint St. Peters defeated St. Thomas Trinity Strikers in a close encounter.

St. Peters first goal came off the boot of Dionis Stevens in the 17th minute but Kendale Liburd produced the equaliser in the 24th minute. But one minute after, Khiron Phillip tapped in his first of two goals to put his team back in the lead.

His second goal came in the 45^th minutes to send St. Peters into half time with a 3-1 lead as he used his unmatched height to his advantage to deny many of his opponents possession of the ball while displaying skills of excellent ball control and dribbling.

Going into the second half with a two-goal deficit, Vallon Rogers found the back of St. Peters’ nets in the 68^th minute and this somewhat inspired his teammates. They pulled out all stops and launched a late challenge but fell one goal short of earning a draw.

Officials were Caldon Duncan, James Matthew, Florencetine Morton and Tristley Bassue. 

On the following day (June 3), S. L. Horsford St. Pauls edged Cayon FC 1-0 in a quiet game which saw little chances being created.

St. Pauls however was awarded a penalty in a feisty second half which saw three Red Cards being handed out. The first one was given to Cayon’s Melroy Morton in the 62^nd minute and the other two to Austin Lewis of St. Pauls and Kurt Morton of Cayon, both in the 75^th minute.

Officials were Tristley Bassue, Caldon Duncan, Alexis Joseph and Florencetine Morton.

In the second game, Hobson Enterprises Garden Hotspurs defeated Conaree FC 2-1.

Conaree’s Byun Morson drew first blood in the 5th minute but a brilliant strike from Shervin Allen in the 28th minute brought both teams back on level terms.

Rovan Wigley of Spurs squandered a golden opportunity for his team when he missed a penalty in the 73rd minute. However, that did not impede the team’s progress as Javid Sabrattie found the back of the nets in the 80^th minute to give Spurs a well-deserved victory.

Marvin Charles of Conaree was given a Red Card in the 36th minute.

Officials were James Matthew, Ike Inniss, Delroy Jeffers and Lloyd Rouse.

Delphic Newton United now lead the table with 25 points, three points ahead of second placed Conaree FC in second place. Cayon FC remains rooted at the bottom of the points standings with six points.