Bel Jou came from behind to defeat La Clery Youth in the final of the La Clery Football League, Hon Stephenson King Competition on Sunday at the La Clery Playing Field.
The Youth were able to book their way to the finals through a hard-fought 4-3 win over Active Strikers FC.
They were inspired by a hat trick from Rohan Valcent and a fourth from super-sub Kurrel Larcher. Active Strikers FC battled all the way through with goals coming from Travis St Pierre, Darrio Reid, and Shem Joyeux.
Bel Jou put on a clinical display to eliminate Radics United FC, the defending champions, in the second semifinal. With two goals in the first half from the boots of Montel Carasco and Messi Pinel, Bel Jou went on to win the encounter 2-0.
On Sunday, Mervin St Romain put the youngsters ahead in the 26th minute of play, an advantage that would hold until halftime. Arthur Augustin equalised in the 56th minute, and then Messi Pinel put Bel Jou ahead with an acrobatic strike in the 60th minute.
Elran Wilson took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to net in the 65th to put Bel Jou 3-1 ahead, and Montel Carasco made it 4-1 in the 76th.
Abraham Mentor, the veteran goalkeeper for Bel Jou, and a former Saint Lucia national keeper, was named MVP of the final.
“The second half the plan was let’s try and dominate the midfield, because that’s what we wasn’t doing in the first half,” said Be Jou captain Ansgar Herman. “And then we did it, we executed it well, so that that’s why we came out victorious.
“It’s a good tournament but, like, I’m saying it’s a privilege for me as an old man, playing with the young players. I’m telling you it’s a big privilege. The fellas have a good little team. They put the fight to us. But we stayed there, and we absorbed, we absorbed, we absorbed. And then it came to us when the time was right.”
In the third-place playoff, Radics United FC beat Active Strikers 2-1. Shaquan Adonis put Active Strikers ahead after 18 minutes, but Radics were back on even terms within two minutes, courtesy Shawn Alcee, who then won it in the 63rd.
Rohan Valcent (La Clery Youth) and Kevon Gordon (Radics United) netted six goals each to lead the scoring tables.
Seven teams took part in this competition, which got underway in July. La Clery now turns its attention to the final stages of the Semi Professional Football League, and the commencement of Blackheart Football.
