BAA suffer shock defeat
After BAA tumbled to a shock defeat to Key West, defending champions MR Onions reached the top of the table for the first time this season with a routine victory over an under-strength Dandy Town Roots.
Roots started the game with only eight men, and though they had 10 men by the second half, they were already 3-0 down thanks to goals from Simon Gregory, Niall Baillie and a debut strike from Desmond Thomas. Baillie added two more late in the second half to claim his hat-trick and seal a 5-0 victory while Dandy Town, though comfortable in possession, were unable to pressure the Onions backline.
BAA's six-match winning run came to a halt when Key West deservedly won an exciting contest at BAA field on Saturday. Key West started better and opened the scoring after 20 minutes when Jamal Mills played a neat one-two with his strike partner and fired home from 20 yards.
BAA leveled matters just before the break when Martin Jones continued his remarkable run of scoring in every game this season and struck from an Ollie Labett cross. BAA took the lead in the second half with another superb Jones goal, his 13th of the season. However Key West continued to take the game to BAA and leveled the score when Paul Towlson slotted home with 20 minutes remaining.
Key West took the lead when left-back Burton Cox rifled in an unstoppable free-kick with 15 minutes to go.
Despite BAA owning the ball for the remaining 15 minutes they couldn't find a way past the Key West keeper and the score finished 3-2.
Robin Hood are third after struggling to beat Prospect/Fire who have been the whipping boys of Commercial A this season. Hood went 2-0 up through goals by Keenan Robinson and a spectacular volley from Joel Duffy but Prospect's Mark Pacheco pegged the score back just before half time from a set piece. Lobster Pot are fourth after a 1-1 draw with North Village.
Kevin Ronaldson was on target for Pot while Shawn Caisey struck for Rams. Tuff Dogs and PHC Raiders drew 0-0.
In the B Division Group 1 St. George's All-Stars had to hold of intense pressure from Hamilton Parish Workmen's Club to secure a share of points after leading 3-0. The visitors took the lead after fine build up play saw defender Lawrence Smith coolly score.
Second half action saw Peppers step up their attacking play but they were soon to fall further behind thanks to the guile of veteran Derek Wright who scored the second goal and made a third for striker William (Apples) Richardson to tuck away.
All-Stars seemed comfortable with their 3-0 lead and soon made several changes including that of keeper Maxwell Burgess who made way for the returning regular keeper Ernest McCallan.
Unfortunately the changes caused Allstars to lose their shape as the Parish's Irving Burgess scored two goals and Corey Hill got one. Valley hammered Somerset Bridge Rec 13-0 while the St. David's/Boulevard tie will be played this weekend.
In the Commercial B Group 2 runaway leaders Somerset Extros put Devonshire Rec Lions to the sword and kept their hundred percent record with a 5-2 win. Duncan Barclay and Junior DeSilva were on target for Extros although it was all square at the break.
In the second half Paul Maybury sprang the offside trap, rounded the keeper and slotted home. Maybury converted a cross moments later and then repaid the favour by crossing for Damon Thompson to volley home from outside the box on his debut.
At Shelly Bay Wolves drew 3-3 with Dockyard Falcons. Wolves took an early lead when Donald Norford completed a neat one-two with Horace Landy.
Dockyard Falcons equalised from a well-placed header by Gary Trott from a corner. In the second half Horace Landy gave Wolves the lead again with a hard shot to the keeper's right.
Clifton Anderson then scored two goals with almost identical hard and low shots just inside the far post to give Falcons their first lead. Bobby Smith scored a penalty in the last minute after a handball. Pest Control picked up three much-needed points when Devonshire All-Stars failed to raise a side at home.
¦ Please send results and match reports to mtaylor@royalgazette.bm