The race for the Barbados Football Association’s Premier League title took a potentially significant twist on Tuesday night.
Playing at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey, bottom-of-the-table club Wotton pulled off the upset of the season by defeating title challengers Kickstart Rush 1-0.
Wotton have endured an extremely difficult season and were without a point after 11 games. Kickstart, meanwhile, were flying high in fourth position on 23 points and could have moved up to second and just one point behind leaders Paradise with a victory.
Instead, they paid the ultimate price for a below par performance on the night.
A long ball down the left hand side exposed the Kickstart defense, leading to a mis-timed sliding tackle in the box that saw a penalty being awarded to Wotton.
Terry Rollock stepped up to the spot to hammer the ball in the back of the net in the 61st minute, as Wotton rode their luck to secure a memorable win.
Having seen Kickstart slip up in the opening game, fifth placed Brittons Hill United knew victory against eighth placed Eyre’s Meat Shop Pride of Gall would lift them to third.
They got the ideal start when Steven Pierre gave them the lead in the 20th minute. However, Shakarie Mottley brought Gall Hill level in the 37th minute, but on the stroke of half time Ray Snagg put Brittons Hill ahead once more at 2-1.
Eight minutes into the second half Mottley levelled the scores yet again to set up a pulsating finish.
The game took a major twist late on when Gall Hill were awarded a penalty in the fourth minute of additional time. Mottley stepped up to convert it and complete his hat trick and seemingly seal the win for the Christ Church-based side.
However, in a shocking turn of events, Gall Hill conceded a penalty in the 12th minute of additional time. Kirtney Franklyn then showed nerves of steel to convert from the spot to make it 3-3, and deny Gall Hill what would have been just their fourth win of a challenging season.
With 12 rounds of matches completed, Paradise lead the league on 27 points, with defending champions Weymouth Wales second on 25 and Ellerton third on 23. Kickstart Rush are fourth on 23 points but with an inferior goal difference to Ellerton, with Brittons Hill fifth, also on 23 points.
Bagatelle are sixth on 14 points, ahead of seventh-placed UWI Blackbirds on 12 and eighth-placed Pride of Gall Hill, who also have 12 points.
The relegation positions are occupied by ninth placed St. Andrew Lions who have six points and Wotton on three.
League action continues at the Technical Centre on Sunday, featuring one of the most critical games left in the season.
A top of the table clash will see leaders Paradise opposing defending champions Weymouth Wales at 6 p.m., while Kickstart Rush and UWI Blackbirds will both be hoping to bounce back from defeats in the opening game at 4 p.m. The nightcap game at 8 p.m. will feature Pride of Gall Hill and Ellerton.
The race for the Golden Boot is led by Bagatelle’s Torian Joseph, who has 11 goals after 12 games. Shakille Belle of Ellerton, Kirtney Franklin of Brittons Hill and Kamol Griffith of Paradise all have nine.
kurtishinds@barbadostoday.bb
