Paradise Football Club are the new kings of the Barbados Football Association Premier League table — and they served notice in the most dramatic fashion possible. In a thrilling Thursday night...
Paradise Football Club are the new kings of the Barbados Football Association Premier League table — and they served notice in the most dramatic fashion possible. In a thrilling Thursday night encounter at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey, Paradise overturned a first-half deficit to dismantle St Andrew Lions 4-1, with a breathtaking second-half display that had onlookers on their feet from the 63rd minute onwards.
Slow Start, Costly Gift
Coached by former Barbados captain and top striker Mario Harte, Paradise entered the contest on 13 points — just one behind leaders Kickstart Rush — and with the hunger of a side that knew exactly what was at stake. Yet for all their quality, it was the Lions who drew first blood, and in the most unfortunate of circumstances for the Dover-based side. Defender Ramon Manning, under pressure from a Lions free kick in the 38th minute, could only watch in horror as the ball looped over his own goalkeeper Jireh Malcolm and into the net. It was the kind of moment that can unravel a team's confidence — but not this Paradise side.
The Turning Point: Oughterson Ignites the Comeback
Head coach Harte's halftime words clearly had the desired effect. Paradise returned from the break a transformed unit — pressing higher, moving sharper, and suffocating the Lions at every turn. The momentum shift manifested into a goal in the 63rd minute when Jaron Oughterson, picking up a precision cross from the right flank, produced a composed clinical finish from the left side of the box to draw the sides level. The Technical Centre erupted, and from that point on, the Lions — led by former Barbados international Kenray Skinner — looked a broken side.
The Griffith-Harewood Combination Breaks the Game Open
Four minutes later, the contest was well and truly flipped on its head. The ever-dangerous Shamari Harewood, demonstrating tremendous composure after outsprinting his marker down the right flank, drove past Lions goalkeeper Sharad McAllister before squaring precisely inside the six-yard box to find the well-positioned Kamol Griffith, who applied a clever finish to make it 2-1 in the 67th minute. It was exactly the kind of intricate combination play that has made Paradise the most feared attack in the division this season.
Harris Detonates the Long-Range Missile
If Griffith's goal signalled the end of the Lions' resistance, Jomo Harris made absolutely certain of it ten minutes later. The Paradise captain, picking up the ball some 20 yards from goal, unleashed a thunderous left-foot scorcher that rocketed into the roof of the net, giving McAllister absolutely no chance. It was Harris's second spectacular long-range effort of the campaign — and arguably the goal of the night. 3-1, and the Lions were in full retreat.
Hoyte Puts the Gloss On It
With the game firmly in hand, Harte's men continued to probe and punish. Defender Raquan Clarke launched one of his trademark long searching throws from deep, finding an unmarked Sheran Hoyte in behind the Lions' defensive line. Hoyte's control was immaculate — gathering with composure, sprinting past two defenders and cheekily rounding the onrushing McAllister before finishing into an empty net in the 84th minute. The scoreline read 4-1, and the points were never in doubt.
Defensive Solidity Underpins the Victory
While the goals and the flair rightfully commanded the spotlight, the quiet professionalism of the Paradise backline deserves enormous credit. Once the equaliser arrived, Manning — despite the earlier own goal misfortune — showed true character, anchoring the defensive shape alongside Raquan Clarke and allowing the midfield platform to build. Goalkeeper Malcolm barely had a save to make in the second half as Paradise's high press strangled every Lions attacking move at birth.
Table Topping Reward
The final whistle confirmed what the performance had already made clear: Paradise Football Club are serious title contenders. The 4-1 win moves them two clear points ahead of Kickstart Rush at the summit of the BFA Premier League, with games still in hand. For the Lions, it was a chastening evening that raises serious questions about their defensive vulnerability against top-quality opposition.
Match Summary
Final Score: St Andrew Lions 1 – 4 Paradise FC
Goals: Manning (38' OG) | Oughterson (63'), Griffith (67'), Harris (73'), Hoyte (84')
Venue: BFA Technical Centre, Wildey
Key Performers: Jomo Harris, Shamari Harewood, Kamol Griffith, Sheran Hoyte
