Cavalier SC enjoyed a comprehensive victory in their first game of 2016 in the Red Stripe Premier League crushing Boys Town FC 3-0 on Sunday at the Stadium East Field.
After a pulsating 4-4 draw against strugglers Waterhouse FC in their final game of 2015 the appetite for scoring still lingered on the lips of the Cavaliers team. Jason Watson opened the scoring in the first half from the penalty spot before a superb strike from Cleon Pryce and an exquisite solo run from Aldaine Grant secured all there points for Rudolph Speid’s men.
A goalless first 20 minutes was mostly memorable for a spate of rash challenges rather than anything else, but in the 21st minute Virgo pushed up from the right before Boys Town had cleared the ball, and Smith ran in behind, Victor Thompson’s ludicrous tackle—totally out of character for his usual measured approach to defending—took Smith down for a easy penalty call after his surging run into the box. Smith’s energy and pace was too much for defender Thompson. Jason Watson was given the responsibility to put the home team ahead and he did so with alacrity, side footing the ball to the right of the goal keeper Mikhail Harrison who went the wrong way.
Shortly after that Chevone Marsh sent Pryce one his way to goal with a delightful through ball but his effort lacked finesse and went high and wide of the goal. That was a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0. Boys Town miserable afternoon continued with the midfielders giving away the ball far too cheaply much to the disgust of their manager Andrew Price on the touch line.
As the action swung from end to end with Cavalier getting the better opportunities they almost made it 2-0 on the half hour mark. Shawn Lawes delivered a tailored long ball splitting the defence of Boys Town to find Dwayne Smith whose excellent effort was blocked for a corner kick. The home team continued to get some good looks on goal but failed to convert their chances. A half that Cavalier clearly dominated ended 1-0 but could have been much different if they were a little sharper in front off goal. New signee Cleon Pryce gave the white and black striped team a whole new dimension. He was quick and direct, forcing the ‘Red Brigade’ defence to be on their toes for the first 45 minutes.
After the break, Boys Town came out desperately in search of the equalizer. They earned two quick corners pressing the Cavalier team against the ropes but stout defending by Shawn Lawes and Jeffery Grant prevented them from soiling the clean sheet.
The sting from the game was lost for long periods before the 72nd minute when Adrian King picked out the former Waterhouse man Peter Keys with a well weighted pass but his impeccable one time volley crashed against the cross bar and went back into play. They continued to press, looking the team most likely to score but was unable to find a matching key to unlock the Cavalier defence.
Boys Town two full-backs, Xavion Virgo just returning from injury, wasn’t as sharp and decisive and Kimarley Fray who has been among the best in RSPL as an emerging young player this season, each made an error that cost the ‘Red Brigade’ goals on Sunday. The second goal of the afternoon came in the 80th minute when Watson the scorer of the first, whipped in a teasing cross on the edge of the 6 yard box. The cross found ‘new kid on the block’ Pryce who beat two defenders to the ball to steer home a well deserved beauty.
A minute later another new signee came up trumps for Speid’s team. Aldaine Grant coming on a minutes before, scored his team’s 3rd and his first for his new club. He showed great composure, class and pure outrageous technique to bamboozle the entire Boys Town back line before firing home from close range, a goal of the season contender for sure.
The scoreline might have finished 3-0, but that did not reflect the excellent performance from a few of the Boys Town players with the experienced part of the team’s spine in particularly impressive form: Peter Keys in attack and Victor Thompson in defence.
Keyes did not find the back of the net on this occasion, but his work rate throughout the first half was exceptional without huge support from midfield and his strike partner Raffeike Thomas and he got the better of the home defence with his movement, first touch and ability to link play.
The finest of Cavaliers midfielders on the day again, Chevone Marsh produced both destructive and constructive work to provide the platform for both his team’s clean sheet and their three-goal winning margin.
Rudolph Speid starts the year with a bang, heading into the next game in excellent form. The win takes Cavaliers two points clear of tenth place Tivoli Gardens.
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