Crabs pinch Super League f/ball title

MARLON WARNER scored a hat-trick and assisted in another goal as Crab Connection copped the inaugural All Sport National Super League crown and the $25,000 first prize on Friday night. The “Crabs” topped the 11-team table following a 5-2 whipping of Club Sando in the second match of a double-header dubbed “The Friday Night Lime,”  at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. Maraval Youth Academy, who led the standings for the majority of the season, thrashed bottom-placed Tamana United 7-1 in the night’s first fixture. But there was no stopping Connection on the night, with their army of supporters (including a rhythm section and Blue Devils) celebrating long before, and after the final whistle from referee Julien Drayton.

Using the counter-attack to great effect, the Febeau Village-based squad opened the scoring after nine minutes, with striker Michael Alexis speeding past Jerome Bennett on the right flank and sending a low centre to Irving Trim who planted his header beyond the reach of Sando goalkeeper Damiean Walker. Walker was called into action in the 17th, blocking a goal-bound drive from Warner, but the quick-footed striker would atone for his error 10 minutes later. A one-two between himself and Trim saw the Southerners’ defence in disarray, with Warner taking full advantage in the box, tapping home past the onrushing Walker. Despite the humid conditions, the Crabs dictated the pace of the match, and they put the result beyond doubt in the 40th, when captain Joseph Peters sent Warner free on the right as his centre found an unmarked Alexis who slotted into the vacant net.
Sando got on the scoresheet three minutes before halftime, when striker Romeo Williams was gifted withan open goal after Connection’s goalie Achim Persue blocked a powerful freekick from captain Kevin Olliviera. Warner was again denied on a goalbound run by Walker in the 53rd but, five minutes later, he netted his second. Beating the offside trap, he latched on to a long ball from Sheldon Thomas, rounded an advancing Walker and calmly tapped home from close range. And his hattrick was completed in the 84th, scoring from his second penalty attempt (Walker infringed on the first try) after Alexis was tripped in the box by Nigel Simmons. Ollivierra converted an indirect freekick in the 87th but it did little to prevent the Crabs from crawling away with the title.