Shield Preliminary: Vasco, Wolves, YMSC Win
This curtain-raiser contest at PHC Stadium was an exciting intro on the day, with a battling Wolves side advancing in the Shield competition on the heels of a 3 – 1 win over Flanagan’s Onions.
Two strikes from Lamelle Paynter and a single strike from Rubaine Zeko were enough to send Wolves through from this encounter, although Flanagan’s were game opposition.
Wolves entered the match in a new formation installed by coach Vince Minors Jr that featured Paynter pushed further forward as a target man and he hit the bulls-eye early and often as Onions were rocked by the strategy.
In quick succession Paynter and Zeko hit pay-dirt and the die was cast for Flanagan’s.
The second half held Wolves using long ball tactics that were not nearly as productive, but their defence held solid, limiting Flanagan’s to a JahVon Morgan consolation strike in the later stages.
“My team, with our old and young trying to gel together, it looked pretty good and worked out,” said coach Vince Minors after the final whistle. “We got three in the first half and one just before the half and that gave us a boost.
“In the second half we kind of resorted to long balls which didn’t really help us and got the consolation goal.”
As for how the Shield fits into their season agenda Minors was unequivocal, saying, “We have a high emphasis on all competitions, including the Shield, we’ve paid our money into it and we want to place emphasis on everything.
“Every game is a big game for us, we go one game at a time and go from there. We have a good mixture of old and younger players and we’re gelling a bit and coming together.”
At Bernard Park, Vasco recorded their first victory since their return to Bermuda Football Association action and it came in dramatic fashion winning 8 – 7 on kicks from the penalty mark in this Shield Preliminary match against St. David’s.
Kontai Burton gave St. David’s the lead in the 18th, but Nuno DaSilva equalized for Vasco in the 38th minute, Kyle Godfrey gave Vasco a 2 – 1 lead when he scored in the 76th minute, before Burton scored his second of the game in the 87th minute to equalize for St. David’s to send the game into Extra Time.
In the extra time period Marco Mota scored from Vasco in the 119th minute as it looked as if Vasco would advance with one minute remaining, but Burton would compete his hat-trick in the final minute to draw St. David’s level and send the match to the Kicks from the Penalty Mark, which saw Vasco come out on top.
Young Men Social Club needed extra time to advance in their shield match with Ireland Rangers, picking up a 5 – 3 victory.
The match was level at 2 – 2 after full time with Young Men Social Club getting two goals from Nique Armstrong, while Rayquan Smith and Henry Santucci scored a goal each for Ireland Rangers.
In the extra time period, Young Men Social Club would get a third from Armstrong, as well as single strikes from Anthony Purnell and Jahmair Lewis-Trott, while Jonathan Bean scored for Ireland Rangers.
