NCIL Football Championships getting sweeter

The pot is boiling and things are sweetening up as the senior men’s division of the 2014 National Inter-Community Football Championships hit the second phase.{{more}}

Following the preliminary round of competition, 10 of the 16 teams have advanced to the second round, which got started last Thursday at the Victoria Park.

Thus far, West Kingstown has had two wins under their belts from as many matches, to head Zone B.

West Kingstown, after inflicting a five-nil drubbing on surprise qualifier Buccament, returned last Sunday night to avenge a 3-2 defeat which they suffered at the feet of Georgetown in the preliminary phase.

This time on more familiar territory, West Kingstown trumped 3-1 over their foes.

A brace from Kiko Lorraine and the other item from Enwar Thomas gave West Kingstown one foot into the quarter-finals. Jamal Blake responded for Georgetown from the penalty spot.

Also in that zone, South Leeward continued their unbeaten run with a 3-1 downing of Gloja’s North Leeward.

The other zone, which hosts two-time champion Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines Barrouallie, Layou, Sion Hill, Sea Operations Greiggs and National Lotteries Authority Central Kingstown, is equally being well contested.

Barrouallie, after recording a hard fought win over Greiggs, got a body check from the previously scratchy Central Kingstown last Sunday night.

It took an Azhino Solomon item late in the second stanza of the match to down the 2012 and 2013 winners.

Barrouallie, in their opening match on Thursday, had to wait in injury time on a wet surface to overcome a defiant Greiggs outfit.

Oalex Anderson netted both goals for Barrouallie, while Don Laborde scored for Greiggs.

And Layou, who had four draws and one win in the preliminary round, kept their unbeaten record intact, while denting Sion Hill’s, as they won one-nil.

Four teams from each of the two zones head out to the quarter-final stage.

The quarter-final pairings match the first places versus the fourth places and the seconds and the third places battle.

The semi-finals will once again be played on a home and away basis, although all matches will be played at the Victoria Park.

The final is slated for May 10 or 11.

The winner pockets $10,000; the second place – $6,000, with the third place getting $ 3,000 and the fourth place $1,000.

Additionally, teams winning their second round matches get $100 for each win and $150 for wins in the quarter-finals and the semi-finals.

The championships also have an Under-13, Under-18 and women’s component. (RT)