Elisha Darrell joins Donavan Thompson on top of the shots
It was only fitting that Elisa Darrell, a former high jumper turned goal poacher for Devonshire Cougars, moved to the top of the Premier Division scoring charts last night.
Darrell used his prodigious leaping ability to outmuscle his marker at the back post and power a stupendous header beyond Detre Bell to punctuate a 3-2 victory in the Dudley Eve Trophy semi-finals on PHC Field, handing North Village their first defeat of the season.
His second goal, more of the “fox in the box” variety, proved the difference between the sides and marked Darrell out as the most complete forward on a night when strikers from both semi-finals — Somerset Trojans beat Hamilton Parish 1-0 in the first game — misfired far more than they exercised the opposing goalkeepers.
The brace takes Darrell to eight on the season, level with Donavan Thompson, the prolific X-Roads marksman, and one clear of Jonté Smith, who in a mere two games has given St George’s an exciting relevance with no standout team clearly established a few months into the 2022-23 campaign.
As the fixture list would have it, Darrell and Smith will come eye-to-eye in the Premier Division on Sunday night at Devonshire Rec — the visiting side looking to send a further message to “the establishment” after the 11-1 dismantling of Robin Hood, and the custodians of the Den aiming to put the eastern upstarts in their place.
Goalkeepers beware.
In the First Division, it remains to be seen if Morricko Iris, who helped himself to four in Wolves’ 5-1 defeat of St David’s on October 16, can stay the pace, but Ryan Parris, who is level with him at the top on five goals, is sure to get more opportunities with high-flying Young Men’s Social Club.
Looming with pedigree are David Jones Jr, also of Social Club, with four goals while Antwan Russell, who has dropped a division from PHC to coach Paget Lions, is on three.
PREMIER DIVISION
(all competitions)
8: Elisha Darrell (Devonshire Cougars), Donavan Thompson (X-Roads).
7: Jonté Smith (St George’s).
6: Justin Corday (Somerset Trojans), Kashe Hall (St George’s), Jaizel Smith-DeShields (North Village).
5: Shavon Nisbett (PHC), Zari Simmons (Devonshire Cougars), Marco Warren (PHC).
4: Domico Coddington (Devonshire Cougars), Blaiz Hall (St George’s), Chemarl Henry (Dandy Town), Kion Knights (Hamilton Parish), Cecoy Robinson (Dandy Town), Paul Simons (PHC), Tahmi Williams (North Village), Keishon Wilson (St George’s).
3: Che’Kai Caisey (Devonshire Cougars), Ian Coke (Boulevard), Demetre Daniels (Devonshire Cougars), Kamali Davis (Boulevard), Shayne Hollis (Hamilton Parish), Jaman Lottimore (X-Roads), T’ysi Showers (PHC), Angelo Simmons (Dandy Town), Nacori Smith (North Village), Macquille Walker (Hamilton Parish).
2: Kadeem Abraham (PHC), Jaylon Bather (PHC), Justin Bell (North Village), Zuhri Burgess (Hamilton Parish), Tomiko Goater (Dandy Town), Jalun Hassell (PHC), Jaman Lottimore (X-Roads), Tre Ming (North Village), Aaron Nelson (Hamilton Parish), Jahzardae Samuels (Boulevard), Jesse Seymour (Devonshire Cougars), Malachi Trott (St George’s), Amir Wilson (X-Roads).
1: Mohammad Aden (Somerset Trojans), Jerome Bailey (Boulevard), Jaylon Bather (PHC), Keishen Bean (PHC), Sage Blair-Paynter (St George’s), Chae Brangman (X-Roads), Kahmori Brangman (X-Roads), Shannon Burchall (Boulevard), Jai Burgess (St George’s), Tyrell Burgess (St George’s), Simeon Burrows (Somerset Trojans), Jeze Butterfield (Somerset Trojans), Chris Caisey (Devonshire Cougars), Clay Darrell (Boulevard), Lashun Dill (St George’s), Diondre Dowling (PHC), Azendae Furbert (Dandy Town), Tajai Goater (Robin Hood), Jalen Harvey (North Village), Ryan Hassell (PHC), Edry Moore (Dandy Town), Danté Leverock (Robin Hood), Ereico Outerbridge (Robin Hood), Jordan Outerbridge (Hamilton Parish), Manoj Paynter (St George’s), Jaden Ratteray-Smith (Somerset Trojans), Nathan Rego (Somerset Trojans), Khari Sharrieff-Hayward (Dandy Town), Jain Shields (Somerset Trojans), Ian Simmons (North Village), Lejaun Simmons (Devonshire Cougars), Anthony Smith (Boulevard), Nizigh Spence (Dandy Town), Daren Usher (PHC), Zeko White (Devonshire Cougars), D’Andre Wainwright (Somerset Trojans), (Enyche Zuill (Boulevard).
FIRST DIVISION
(all competitions)
5: Morricko Iris (Wolves), Ryan Parris (Young Men’s Social Club).
4: Leo Burgess (Ireland Rangers), David Jones Jr (Young Men’s Social Club).
3: Kushae Hypolite (Paget), Antwan Russell (Paget), Tahj Wade (Ireland Rangers), Nigel Williams (Young Men’s Social Club).
2: Daniel Ball (Devonshire Colts), Jahnai Ratteray (Ireland Rangers), Wahhaj Shakir (Paget), Shakir Smith (Paget), Isaiah Taylor (Southampton).
1: Keino Burch (Devonshire Colts), DeMarlo Curtis, N’Zyah Edwards (Young Men’s Social Club), Ethan Fubler (Somerset Eagles), Jinairo Johnson (Young Men’s Social Club), Marcus Proctor (St David’s), Sekai Proctor (Ireland Rangers), Jaidyn Robinson (BAA), Riley Robinson (BAA), Tyree Robinson (Wolves), Dane Simmons (Somerset Eagles), Iyuan Smith (St David’s), Cole Summers (BAA), Brighton Swan (Young Men’s Social Club), Whakail Tucker (Ireland Rangers), Samario Valasse-Paul (Wolves), Ralston Wright (Southampton).
• Compiled by Dexter Smith (queries to dsmith@royalgazette.com or @DexterSmith16)
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