As word circulated islandwide, that defending Champions Tivoli Gardens FC were hijacked 0-2 by Village United, the opportunity loomed large that a victory would make a massive difference to the title race, with only 4 games to go and Tivoli a point adrift on 66 points.
The confirmation arrived via cellphones and the task abundantly clear was there for the taking?
St. George’s never read the script and quickly jumped into an early lead after just nine minutes, as midfielder Omar fired a spectacular 25 yards thunderbolt to set the hearts racing as goalkeeper, Michaud Barrett’s futile dive low and wide to his right could not deter the missile from lodging in its precise resting spot inside the goal…0-1.
This is not what was supposed to happen, but it did!
How would HVFC respond…in a jiffy, as attacks through twin forwards Kavin Bryan and Jahmali Spence were met with stout resistance and even harder tackles and defensive ploys resulting in four Free-kicks just outside the area about 23-29 yards from goal.
Jermaine Hue was the designated kicker, his second one struck the crossbar as nobody could react before it bounced away down field, his third evaded the goalkeepers grasp and his spill fell just outside the post much to his pleasure as he saw the embarrassment caused by his blunder coming to haunt his team, and him in particular.
The second half was more of the same right from the start but John-Ross Edwards corner kick from the left found the dangerous forehead of National Defender, Dicoy Williams who smashes it home from 8 yards in the process registering his 5th goal of the season in minute 54.
The pressure would continue to mount on the home team as they retreated to the brink of their goal area until fatigue and frustration set in, while HVFC Coach Donovan “DV” Hayles applied added pressure with new attacking players each 15 minutes as Andre Fagan and Rafiek Thomas joined the hunt after Marcelino Blackburn turned up the heat immensely to boiling point.
Two minutes from time the pressure burst the seams of the defensive pipe, as Thomas cut and carve his way through the tough Defensive National Player, Jermaine Taylor as he cut and carved new space before slipping through the space and slotting past custodian Randal Huie in the 89th minute to win it in dramatic fashion.
Jubilant, the large throng of traveling Supporters erupted all over the ground, co-workers jumping about as Children on a playground, Coaches tried to retain their composure as they organized the squad, still advising the end is near but it is not there just yet…3 to go!