TITLE favourites Hard Knocks FC lived up to their billing when they clinched championship honours in the 2014 Lendore Village Football League with a 3-0 win over Jordan Trace CRIL at the Chrissie Terrace Recreation Ground in Enterprise on Thursday.
The race for the league title came down to the final round of Big-Four matches with all four teams evenly poised to become champions.
Hard Knocks were placed under further pressure when contenders Valencia United ran out 3-1 winners over Cool It FC in the night’s opener.
Needing to win by two clear goals, they set to the task from the opening whistle, playing up-tempo possession football and got the breakthrough in the 14th minute when striker Kerron Smith unleashed a crisp left-footed shot that rocketed past custodian Quasi Western.
Hector Sam almost made it 2-0 three minutes later but his effort went straight into the arms of Western.
Hard Knocks would maintain their high level of intensity as Gorean Highley forced Western to move smartly to his right to snare in a shot headed for the back of the net a mere minute after Sam’s attempt.
Sam actually hit home in the 22nd minute but assistant referee Michael Isaac flagged him offside.
The sustained pressure eventually reaped dividends in the 35th minute when Anthony Parris, who was having a relatively quiet game, raced onto a pass knocked forward and skilfully controlled the ball with his first touch without allowing it to drop before hitting a cracking volley past Western.
Sam eventually get his name on the score sheet when he rounded his marker in the 77th minute to beat Western with a neat finish to his left. CRIL’s best scoring opportunity came in.