Rangers ninth title

VIRGIN GORDA—A year after being dethroned by Hairoun, the Rangers reclaimed the Virgin Gorda Football Association Earl Wilson Soccer league crown by winning their ninth title in 10 years, with Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Guy Boys at the Valley Recreation Grounds. Besides the four foot championships trophy, they collected $800 while the Guy Boys, who lost in last year’s third place match, pocketed $600.   “This was tough, a very tough game,” said Rangers’ Caswal Pondt. “In the second half, I think we lost our concentration. We knew that that they would come at us, but we were just waiting for the first 10 minutes so that when they came at us, we would go back into our game plan. In each half, we played with a different strategy and we are fortunate to be on top.”   The Rangers constructed a 4-1 halftime lead on goals by Rohan “Chi Chi’ Lennon in the 6th and 25th minute and Avondale “Avon” Williams’ scores in the 40th and 43rd, before being shut down in the second half, when the Guy Boys unleashed a furious attack that came up short. Guy Boys’ Dwayne Ross scored from a penalty in the 30th minute, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Eldon Williams penetrated the Rangers’ defense in the 79th minute, with a roller past the goalie, as they pulled with in 4-2. Lionel Grimes scored the final goal in the 90th minute of play.

Captain Avon Williams

Virgin Gorda Football Association secretary Eldon said there were some calls against his team that affected their performance. “The referee wasn’t consistent in our book and we had a lot of hard chances, but, it was a good game,” he said. “But, we started too slow. We were playing Rangers football. We weren’t playing Guy Boys’ football, until in the second half. If we had made use of our chances, we would have won the game.”   Pondt said it’s a great pleasure to come back and show that they are still the team to beat. “Over the last 10 years, we have shown that we are the highlight of playing football in the Virgin Gorda league,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to come back and show them that we are a true champion and take back the crown.”   The Wolves beat the BVI Under 21 team, 2-1, to claim the $400 third place prize, while their opponents collected $200. Wolves’ Chris LaPaige’s header gave them a 1-0 in the 25th minute, which they carried into halftime. Four minutes into the second half, the Under 21’s David O’Connor equalized the game, before John Rochester scored the winner in the 65th frame.   Martin Cook said the Wolves have come a long way. “When we started, we were getting six and seven love week in week out down on Tortola. Now third place in the league, playing tonight with 10-men against an Under 21 team, is just a fantastic result,” he said.

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