By Neto Baptiste
FC Aston Villa and Old Road ended their first round campaign in the Antigua Premier League (APL) on winning notes with both teams picking up close but exciting triumphs in the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) top flight on Sunday.
Contesting the feature match at the FA’s Technical Center, Villa clinched a 4-3 win over Garden Stars to move into the second position on the standings with 27 points, two behind leaders Grenades who have 29.
Jahlanie Barzey led the way for Villa with a hattrick, netting all three goals in quick succession in the second half after his team had fallen behind 3-1.
Kwame Kirby opened the scoring for Villa when he struck in the 22nd minute but Ngozie Harvey drew Garden Stars level just six minutes later. Garden Stars went ahead in the 34th when Jahred Williams struck from close range before Kemoi Walsh stretched Stars’ lead to 3-1 in the 57th minute.
Barzey then scored in minutes 78, 84 and 88 to help Villa snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and keep their title chase intact. Stars were reduced to 10 men in the 82nd minute when Tarek Charles was shown a red card by referee Donald Francis.
Meanwhile, former champions Old Road beat Pigotts Bullets 2-1 as they remain in the top five with 23 points.
Rakeem Joseph and Kevon Lucas were on target for Old Road, scoring in minutes 14 and 18. Bullets responded in the 34th minute with a strike from Javain Linton to make it 2-1 but could not find a second in their effort to take at least a point from the contest.
Two players were sent off during the fixture with Bullets’ Jurell Skepple receiving straight red in the 29th and Old Road’s Daniel Nanton falling victim to his second caution within 17 minutes.
