The overachieving University of the West Indies FC came from a goal down to spank former champions Boys Town 5-1 on Sunday and ensured that they will be playing in the Red Stripe Premier League for a second consecutive season.
Dubbed relegation fodder at the start of their inaugural season, the UWI fell behind to a Rafiek Thomas goal in the first minute of play, but responded with three first half goals to go in 3-1 at the break before adding two more in the second half to add shine to a polished performance against the West Kingston based team.
The home team went behind during the first play of the game when the experienced Thomas converted to give the visitors the lead, but Anthony Grant responded for the Mona based aggregation 13 minutes later to make it 1-1.
Girvon Brown then gave the home team the lead from the penalty spot in the 29th minute to record his 10th goal of the season, before Kemmar Flemmings made it 3-1 just two minutes later, to stun the Andrew Price coached team.
A mature second half performance from the UWI team showed just how far they have come in a short period of time as they controlled the flow of play, taking a strangle hold on midfield and never letting their opponents back in the game.
Guilty of conceding many goals late on in the earlier rounds, the Marcel Gayle coached team showed great concentration to score two more in added time through two of their substitutes. Davian Garrison steered home from close range in the first minute of added time before his teammate Anthony Greenland followed suit a minute later to cap a fine performance.
“An excellent performance from the guys today, we didn’t get a brilliant start but they showed great determination today,” Marcel Gayle said of his team.
“They stuck to the task and we easily pushed that first two minutes away. We got our bodies behind the ball and started passing it around and hence we got the first goal. Credit to the guys, I thought they played disciplined right throughout the game. We are not where we want to be but we are getting there.
“The focus was to really stay in the league and today the focus was to get all three points and guarantee a spot next year in the top league and we have done that. Now with the fourth place up for grabs we will be going out there with all our heart and soul to try and get it,” he concluded.
The win now puts the 5th place UWI on 37 points, three more than 6th place Harbour View who drew 1-1 with Portmore United who remain in third on 47 points.
Humble Lion secured a valuable 2-1 win over Tivoli Gardens to remain fourth as the battle for a semi-final spots intensifies. Tivoli was losing for the second time in as many games after going on a three game win streak following the arrival of Glendon ‘Admiral’ Bailey as the new head coach.
Tivoli sits just above the relegation zone in 10th position with 29 points.
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