Yallah eye semis after ‘rough’ win over over York
MARLON Buchanan, manager of Yallahs All Star football team, says the 3-2 win over York United at York Oval last Sunday was a major boost in his team’s bid for a semi-final spot in the St Thomas Serge Major League..
In the second game of a double-header, Orlando Ricketts in the 28th minute, Tamar Francis in the 43rd, and Christopher Taggan in the 56th made sure of three valuable points for Yallah All Star, which took them to fourth spot on seven points.
Robert Stephens scored both goals for York United in the 53rd and 90+1 minutes as they slipped to fifth place on six points.
“The game was basically rough on us because we hadn’t been training well coming into this contest. York is a good team and we did have to be tactical in our approach in this game. So, basically, we just changed some stuff coming into the game and wanted to go with a positive mindset on getting the three points as we wanted to be in the semi-finals.
“This is a 100 per cent booster for us. We were on four points and everybody was ahead of us, and so this win carried us right in the mix. This isn’t for me, but the whole community on a whole. I just want to give thanks to Serge every day for stepping up,doing this over and over,” Buchanan said.
In the opening encounter Seaforth SC continued to the lead the table on 12 points after defeating Bath SC 2-1. Jameil Bernard in the 34th minute and Rafiel Coleman in the 85th scored for Seaforth SC while Husshain Milne scored the lone goal in the 82nd for Bath SC. Bath SC are second in the standings with eight points.
With Seaforth already in the semi-finals the race for the remaining three spots is wide open. The rescheduled featured games at Heartease this Sunday will be crucial as the preliminary round comes to an end and teams jostle for these precious spots.
Heartease, on seven points, can challenge Seaforth for the top position provided the team wins their rescheduled midweek game against White Horses and feature at home in the double-header on Sunday against York United. Anything but a win for York United will see the perennial champions not making the semi-finals of a major competition in the last 10 years.
— Ruddy Allen