Photo: Boys Town striker Rafiek Thomas turns away from UWI players Jamie Robinson and Kemar Cummings during their Red Stripe Premier League game on Sunday. Thomas hit the winner six minutes from time as Boys Town avenged the first round loss to the RSPL newcomers with a 2-1 win at the Barbican Stadium.
Boys Town FC ensured that they head into the festive season on a high after a hard fought 2-1 win over newcomers UWI FC at the Barbican Stadium on Sunday, as the final round of games were played out, before the Christmas break in the Red Stripe Premier League.
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The deadlock was broken in the 14th minute by Andre Dawson for Boys Town and the unpredictable Rafiek Thomas sealed the win with an 84th-minute strike. Girvon Brown had earlier pulled one back for UWI in the 58th minute but his strike wasn’t enough to cover the gaping wound left by the Andrew Price-coached team.
The win has moved Boys Town into sixth position on 25 points as they leapfrogged FC Reno who drew 0-0 with Rivoli United, also on Sunday. The Marcel Gayle-coached UWI team remains 5 points above the relegation zone, which is enough to build on to remain in the competition next year.
Boys’ Town started the game more purposefully, knocking the ball around nicely, trying to break down the UWI back line and looked the more likely team to score. The UWI team was punished in the 14th minute for giving away too many free kicks when Dawson nodded home cheekily past Leighton Donaldson in goal.
The hosts continued to look dangerous and thought they had extended the lead when young Shamar Nicholson hit the net twice, but both were from offside positions. Anthony Greenland should have made it 1-1 after he pulled the trigger from 25 yards. His shot swerved and left Leon Goffe stranded, but strangely the ball hit the cross bar and came back into play. Six minutes later Greenland was presented with a gift, supposedly from Santa, but was a little reluctant in accepting it. Patrick Brown’s sensational strike was coughed up by the Boys Town custodian, but Greenland could only manage to hit the upright from three yards with the keeper on his buttocks. UWI ended the half kicking themselves for not equalizing as the score remained 1-0 at the break.
The second half started with UWI pegging Boys Town in their half as they searched for an equalizer. They were duly rewarded when they won a corner from a well struck left footed shot by Jamie Robinson, which was miraculously turned over the cross bar by Goffe for a corner. The resulting corner kick was directed to the back post, with Owen Hill climbing the highest to head back to the waiting Brown at the near post. The former Cavalier striker had an east task to turn the ball into the net from almost on the goal line.
UWI continued to call the play and got a glorious chance to take the lead. Greenland unselfishly passed to Girvon Brown inside the box and with Goffe at his mercy, the striker hit the ball straight at the Boys Town custodian as the scores remained level.
With the game heading for a draw, Thomas found the winner for Boys’ Town when the UWI defenders failed to react to a long ball, which bounced perfectly for him to head over the advancing custodian.
Boys Town head coach Andrew Price was happy for the win. “We wanted to finish the year on a high, it wasn’t the prettiest of victories, but the guys stood out there and fought valiantly. Looking ahead of 2016 we hope to get back our key players who are out on injury, players like Xavian Virgo, Carlos Wright, Micheal Campbell and Damion Benjamin. It is still good that we showed a lot of depth and character to come away with all three points.”
UWI head coach Marcel Gayle was obviously disappointed with not coming away with at least a point. “We didn’t get the start that we needed and we need to show more guile and determination in the middle of the park. We got the equalizing goal which we needed and could have gone on to win if we had taken our chances. I think we lost concentration close towards the end and hence we lost, but all in all it was a gutsy performance from the boys. ”
Despite losing the game, the UWI team has punched above their weight and remain in eighth position on 22 points, heading into the new year.
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