Rams Village Superstars are not only top of the SKNFA National Bank Premier League, they are back to back champions of the Sugar Mas Cup after they successfully defended their title Sunday night at the Warner Park. Village defeated the S.L. Horsford St. Pauls 1-0 courtesy of a late first half strike from their red hot striker Kimaree Rogers in the 45th minute.
For most of the match, Village pressed St. Pauls and pressured their defense, much like what they did to Conaree F.C. in the semi-finals. That pressure led to a defensive error from St. Pauls, which Kimaree pounced on to deliver the winning goal. In the second half, St. Pauls enjoyed much of the attacking opportunities, but squandered those chances with poor shooting. Village also had some chances of their own, but St. Pauls, frustrated by the Village defense and pesky forwards, played a very physical game, much to the displeasure of the Village coaching staff. But according to Village Coach Jeffrey Hazel, he expected that physical performance from St. Pauls, but knew his guys were mentally tough to the challenge.
“Kudos to the St. Pauls team. I thought they played a very good game against us. What made us win the game basically was our mental toughness. Our guys were under pressure at some points in the game but we stuck to it and we were able to be victorious of course, winning the Carnival Cup,” Coach Hazel said. He said all titles are important and the team wants to win as many titles as they can throughout the season
.This defeat is the first of the season for St. Pauls in all matches having an unbeaten record in the League. Coach Austin Huggins believes his team’s downfall Sunday night was their poor effort at goal and the defensive error that eventually cost them the game. I thought that the team played well but we made a defensive error in the first half that cost us a goal and we came out and had to dig extra deep. All in all I think the game was a good game and had many chances to capitalize, but I think because the players were trying to get the goal, they were overzealous and that prevented us from getting the goal in the back of the net,” Coach Huggins said.
Meanwhile, Village’s hot scoring striker Kimaree Rogers is basking in the moment of glory and wants to continue scoring his team’s way to the National Bank Premier League title. Rogers won the golden boot last season and wants to continue that run this season. “I feel pleased and happy for the team. As you can see we have a lot of youngsters in the team and I just tell them I am going to give them this one to let them enjoy their carnival,” he said. In talking about the goal he scored Sunday night, Kimaree said: as the coach told us, high press when their defenders have the ball because we all know they are not comfortable on the ball and I saw an opportunity and I took it, win the ball and I scored.”
The league now enters into the Christmas/carnival break as teams unwind and get ready for round two which begins in January. In the meantime, Village won the first cup for the season—the 2017 Sugar Mas Cup. Congratulations to the players, coaches and fans of the Rams Village Superstars F.C.