The latest round of Saint Lucia Semi-Pro Football League Tier 1 matches delivered dramatic shifts in the league table and high-scoring entertainment over the weekend, with Vieux Fort South (VFS) emerging as the new sole leader following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Central Castries at Gros Islet’s Francis Baba Lastic Grounds on Sunday evening.
Heading into the weekend, VFS – the 2025 Tier 2 promotion winners – shared the top of the table with defending champions La Clery. The Jamil Joseph-coached green-and-white side extended their unbeaten start to the campaign, while handing Central Castries their fourth defeat in just five outings this season.
The match got off to an early breakthrough for VFS, when Central Castries defender Kaylan Harry diverted the ball into his own net in the fifth minute. Central Castries responded just under 30 minutes later, with Demario Pelage finding the back of the net to level the scoreline in the 34th minute. The balance of the match shifted again only four minutes after the equalizer, as Gregson President slotted home the winning goal for VFS to restore their lead. That decisive strike held up through the final whistle, securing all three points for the southern-based club and pushing them clear of the pack at the top of the standings.
Friday’s opening fixture of the round saw Dennery run riot against Vieux Fort North, securing a lopsided 7-2 win that lifts them to second place in the table. Garvin Reggie delivered the first four-goal haul of the entire 2026 season, putting him level at the top of the league’s individual scoring rankings. Reggie found the net in the 4th, 23rd, 45th and 62nd minutes, with additional goals coming from Kurt Frederick (9th minute), Shannelle William (36th minute) and Jamie Prospere to round out Dennery’s dominant scoreline. Vieux Fort North got late consolation goals from Kimroy Manero in the 49th minute and Kim Augustin in the 75th minute, but could not prevent a heavy defeat.
Saturday’s action brought a surprise slip-up for defending champions La Clery, who were forced to share points after being held to a 1-1 draw by Anse La Raye. Anse La Raye looked set to pull off a upset after Vershaun Jerome broke the deadlock in the 69th minute, but La Clery rescued a point deep into stoppage time when Johnathan Aliene scored the equalizer in the second minute of added time. The dropped points cost La Clery their share of the top spot, opening the door for Vieux Fort South’s ascent.
In an earlier Tier 1 kickoff on Saturday, Soufrière produced a second-half comeback to defeat Canaries 2-1. Canaries took an early lead through Mc Lathur Louis’s 14th minute strike, and held onto the advantage through halftime. But Soufrière turned the game around in the final 20 minutes, with Jardel Philip drawing them level in the 70th minute before Darrel Francis netted the winning goal 15 minutes later.
The weekend of action wrapped up with a seven-goal thriller on Sunday night, as home side Gros Islet edged out Mabouya Valley 4-3. Gros Islet got an early goal from Samaiel Louisen in the 27th minute, and Dervaj Edward doubled their advantage with a brace in the 49th and 70th minutes. Mabouya Valley kept pace throughout the match, responding with goals from Brandon Sandiford (5th minute), Alton Joseph (52nd minute) and Canius Sandiford (61st minute), but fell just short of forcing a draw, leaving Gros Islet to claim all three points.
Looking ahead, the league’s next highlight comes this Wednesday, when second-placed Dennery will face off against former joint-leader La Clery in a highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash at Gros Islet, a match that could reshape the upper reaches of the Tier 1 standings once again.