KERON CLARKE scored in each half as Sports and Games FC Santa Rosa defeated Real Maracas FC 2-0 on Sunday, at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, to secure the 2016 National Super League Premiership Division title.
The Santa Rosa squad needed a win, in their Match Day 25 fixture (the penultimate round of matches) to officially dethrone Defence Force as the title-holders.
And the Arima-based team duly obliged, and they have an unassailable four-point lead with one round of matches remaining.
Clarke got his name on the scoresheet, in the 17th and 81st.
Keith Look Loy, coach and owner of FC Santa Rosa, commented in a telephone interview yesterday, “this is the icing on the cake of a 24-year project.
We’re 24 years old, specifically in terms of a five-year project - our fifth season in the league.
“We’re very happy with how the season (went),” he added.
“It’s been a difficult, long nine months, including pre-season.
Like everybody else, we had our difficulties but we worked through them and we’re very pleased to be the champions today.” Defence Force registered a similar 2-0 victory over Guaya United at the Defence Force headquarters in Chaguaramas.
Stephan Antoine found the back of the net in the 25th while Akil Morris got the other item in the 90th.
Club Sando Moruga stayed in third spot, but they fell to a 3-2 defeat by Bethel United at the Mt Gomery Recreation Ground.
Akeil London opened the scoring for Club Sando Moruga after seven minutes but Bethel replied with goals from Densyl James (43rd) and Teejay Cadiz (45th).
David Neptune got the leveller in the 62nd but Kevon Woodley netted the winner, in the 84th.
WASA jumped from eighth to fifth on the standings after a 5-2 trouncing of Petrotrin Palo Seco at the WASA Ground in St Joseph. Nathan Lewis scored twice for WASA, in the 14th and 54th, while Glen Walker (71st), Phillip Nelson (72nd) and Dwight Crichlow (83rd) got one each. Finding the back of the net for Palo Seco were Tigana Sparks (seventh) and Brent Garcia (34th).
Siparia Spurs cruised past Matura ReUnited 4-0 at Irwin Park, Siparia, with strikes from Andy London (seventh), Chris Collins (22nd), Shavon Frederick (73rd) and Matthew Beal (90th).
At the St James Barracks, the struggling Queen’s Park got a slim 2-1 win over Police. Jason Devenish (11th and 71st) netted twice for the visitors, with Jason Boodram (14th) responding for the lawmen.
And 1976 FC Phoenix got three points without kicking a ball, as cellar-placed Marabella Family Crisis Centre defaulted their scheduled clash at the Canaan Recreation Ground.
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