The race for the Prime Minister’s Cup knockout stage heated up over the weekend, as four squads locked in their spots in the Round of 16, headlined by defending tournament champions Weymouth Wales who secured their progression via a tense 1-0 win over Cave Hill in Group E play at Speightstown on Sunday.
After a scoreless first half that saw both sides struggle to break down stubborn defensive lines, Weymouth Wales head coach Asquith Howell made a decisive tactical triple substitution just after the interval, bringing on fresh legs Ackeel Applewhaite, Jaheim Neblett and Rommell Bynoe to turn the tide of the match. The move paid off almost immediately: within seconds of entering the pitch, Bynoe made an unmarked burst into the Cave Hill 18-yard box that slipped past the entire opposing backline. Cave Hill goalkeeper Ivan Griffith rushed off his goal line to block the incoming attack, but fouled Bynoe in the process, earning a yellow card from the referee and giving Weymouth Wales a penalty.
Veteran striker Armando Lashley stepped up to the spot cooly and converted the kick, notching his fifth goal in just three tournament matches – a tally that puts him at the top of the competition’s golden boot race. The single goal proved enough to secure all three points for the defending champs, booking their ticket to the Round of 16.
Named Player of the Match for his game-winning contribution, Lashley offered a blunt assessment of his side’s performance post-game, acknowledging that the squad did not hit their peak but got the result they needed. “It was sub-par but we got the job done,” he said candidly. Speaking on his red-hot goalscoring form, Lashley credited consistent hard work on the training pitch and disciplined rest routines for keeping him match-ready, and expressed confidence his form would hold through the knockout stages. He added that the squad’s depth gives the side a strong advantage going forward, noting that every player in the squad is capable of earning a starting spot and pushing the team to improve.
Sunday’s opening Group E fixture at Speightstown delivered a far more one-sided result, as Notre Dame cruised to a dominant 4-0 win over Bagatelle to claim second place in the group and lock in their own Round of 16 berth. Player of the Match Donte Thorne got the scoring started early, finding the back of the net in just the sixth minute to set the tone for the fixture. Carl Joseph extended Notre Dame’s lead to two just after the hour mark, putting the result well out of Bagatelle’s reach before Ozim Henderson put the game to bed in the 73rd minute, slotting home a cross from Delani Woodall to make it 3-0. Henderson bagged his second of the match five minutes later to cap the dominant victory.
Post-game, an upbeat Thorne said the squad was thrilled to advance to the knockout stage, highlighting the team’s consistent training as the key to their success. “It was a nice goal. It is always good to score and build some confidence but most importantly advance to the next round. The coach and the boys have been putting in the work (in training) and as you can see it has paid off.”
The knockout round field continued to take shape a day earlier, when Group C play at the same Speightstown venue saw Paradise lock in their spot as group winners with an emphatic 8-0 blowout victory over Technique. Player of the Match Sheran Hoyte stole the show with four goals, while Romario Drakes chipped in with a brace of his own. Shamari Harewood and Tyreese Crawford rounded out the scoring for the dominant side.
Earlier in Saturday’s Group C action, Pro Shottas secured a 4-0 win over L&R United to finish the group stage as runners-up, booking their own place in the Round of 16. Nathan McCollin, Zavion Nurse and Xavier Webster notched the goals for Pro Shottas, closing out the weekend’s group stage action with a fourth knockout spot confirmed.