Volvo motor on to Premier League play-offs
YORK, St Thomas — Volvo of St Ann stunned St Mary’s Axum 3-1 at York Oval on Wednesday night in the Eastern Super 8 final to move on to the National Premier League play-offs set start on Sunday.
Volvo’s goals were scored by Roshane Henry (93rd minute), Everton Marsh (94th) and Jamal Studdart (104th), while Axum’s lone strike came from Michael Hinds in the 21st minute.
Axum had a bright start to the game, attacking Anthony Lyons, Hinds and Richard Davis, and it came as no surprise when they took the lead.
The goal came when Lyons darted down right flank to cross for Michael Hinds, who headed the back past an advancing Ruel Wilson in goal.
Axum were obviously not satisfied with the slim advantage and pursued more goals, but found Volvo defenders Kevin Graham, Adrian Dallas and David Boswell in a not so generous mood.
But after the interval, Volvo came out an invigorated team through Studdart, Andre Green, Marsh and Segree Murphy.
Volvo mounted pressure as they hunt the equalising goal and got it late when Marsh squared to Henry whose diving header proved too much for Axum custodian Akeem Dryden.
That goal forced the match into extra, but Volvo had stronger legs on the day and went on to score two more goals for the win.
For the win, Volvo received the Eastern Confederation trophy and will play Rivoli at Drax Hall on Sunday in their first match of the National Premier League qualifying play-offs.
Winning coach Santanio Miller was happy to book the play-off spot, but already he’s looking beyond that. “This is a wonderful and overwhelming season and the ballers say it is never done until it is over… we did this for the people of Seville Heights. We are focused now on moving on to the super four (Premier League play-offs) and moving on to the (next season’s) Premier League,” he declared.
Axum’s Keith Lattimore bemoaned his team’s swath of defensive errors. “We lost concentration and what we should have done is possess the ball, take it down to the corner flag and run the 30 seconds that were left. It was a good game (and) they did well but lacked the experience they needed at that stage of the game,” he said.
