The latest round of Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League Tier 1 play delivered a string of unexpected results and major standings shifts over the weekend, headlined by a stunning upset of the two-time defending champions at the Francis Baba Lastic Grounds in Gros Islet.
The most eye-catching result came from basement club Central Castries, who overturned a first-half deficit to knock off defending champions La Clery by a 2-1 scoreline on Sunday. La Clery looked on track for a routine three points when Yanic Noel netted his league-leading seventh goal of the campaign late in the opening half, putting the defending champs ahead at the break. But Central Castries mounted a second-half comeback: Messiah Pinel drew his side level before substitute Rai Gaspard slotted home the game-winning goal, pushing Central Castries up to 8th place in the table with six total points. La Clery, meanwhile, remains anchored in third position with 12 points from seven outings.
The weekend’s action kicked off on Saturday with two key matches that reshaped the top and bottom of the tier. First, Dennery pulled off a narrow 2-1 upset of league leaders Vieux Fort South, keeping their own title push firmly on track. Elijah Joseph got Dennery off to a flying start, finding the back of the net just seven minutes into the contest. Vieux Fort South fought back to equalize in the 73rd minute, with Gregson President converting from the penalty spot. It was Dennery that had the final say, however, as Garvin Reggie scored the decisive winner just one minute into second-half stoppage time. Despite the defeat, Vieux Fort South retained their spot at the top of the table with 14 points, while Dennery sits just one point back on 13, holding a game in hand over the league leaders.
Across the weekend, the battle at the bottom of the table also saw major movement. Mabouya Valley, long rooted in last place, earned their first victory of the entire 2026 campaign with a 2-1 win over Anse La Raye. Torian Joseph put the underdogs ahead in the 11th minute, and after Marcalan John equalized for Anse La Raye in the 77th minute, Maius Stanislaus responded just one minute later to lock in three points for Mabouya Valley. While the win lifted Mabouya Valley up to ninth place with five points, the side remains in the relegation zone. The defeat dropped Anse La Raye to last place on goal difference.
Prior to Central Castries’ upset win on Sunday, another Tier 1 clash saw Vieux Fort North secure a comfortable 3-1 victory over Soufriere. Edric Popo notched a brace, with Kim Augustin adding a third for the winners, while Anthonie Herman scored Soufriere’s lone consolation goal. The result pushes Vieux Fort North into fourth place on nine points, with Soufriere slipping to fifth on eight points.
In another Tier 1 matchup, Canaries claimed a 3-1 away win over hosts Gros Islet. Rickelme Lionel put the home side ahead in the 28th minute, but Alex Longville equalized just two minutes later to level the score going into halftime. Veteran striker David Henry then took control of the contest, scoring back-to-back goals in the 50th and 53rd minutes to secure all three points for Canaries. Following the result, Gros Islet sits seventh in the table, while Canaries claims sixth.
In concurrent Tier 2 action, Desruisseaux held on for a dramatic 2-1 win over the Saint Lucia National Under-17 development side. Neandre Charles scored both of Desruisseaux’s goals, striking in the 38th minute and then netting the late winner in the 90th minute. The Under-17 side got their only goal from an 84th-minute own goal. The match ended on a sour note for Desruisseaux, however, as Ahmed Francis was sent off in stoppage time for dissent, leaving the side to finish the game with 10 men.