Vieux Fort South announced their arrival in the top tier of the Saint Lucia Semi-Pro Football League (SPFL) with an emphatic 5-1 win over South Castries on Saturday in the Tier 2 finale at the Dennery Playing Field.
South Castries had conceded but five goals all season. Vieux Fort South scored as many against them in 90 minutes, reinforcing the statement from head coach Jamil Joseph that the men from the south are “back in Tier 1 to stay.”
Both teams will be promoted to the upper division of the SPFL for next season. What was to be decided on the weekend was the inaugural Tier 2 title.
The Men In Green showed their internet from early, Obafemi Poyotte winning a penalty almost from the first kick. Moses Henry hit it hard, but at a good height and width for Maynard Antoine to effect a save.
The first 15 minutes of the game was almost all Vieux Fort South, driven in particular by international forward Jevic McFarlane.
In the 13th minute, Poyotte got on the scoresheet, lobbing it over goalkeeper Maynard Antoine from a dead ball.
Within seconds of the subsequent kickoff, Vieux Fort South had won the ball back. Trent Alexander hit the cross, and Henry made no mistake this time around, slotting past the custodian for the 2-0 advantage just 15 minutes in.
Poyotte completed his brace in the 30th minute, converting from a rebound after back-to-back shots from McFarlane and Henry.
Things looked even darker for South Castries seven minutes from time, when a melee ensured from a corner, emerging from which Henry netted again.
Down four, South Castries fought to get back into the game. Kevon Joseph fired a penalty past Kimani John in the 63rd minute to give them the tiniest bit of hope.
But in the 80th minute, Hosea Mathurin restored the four-goal cushion with a chip over the keeper to confirm Vieux Fort South as Tier 2 champions, and signalling their intent to contend at the top level next year.
