Petit Valley United joined St Clair’s Coaching School (Tobago), Siparia Spurs (South), Biche United (Eastern Counties) and Harlem Strikers (Central) in the Champions of Champions competition, following the club’s thrilling 3-2 win over St Ann’s Rangers in the Media 21 Northern Football Association (NFA) Big Four title, on the New Ground, Queen’s Park Savannah, on Wednesday.
Valley’s Curtis Smith, who helped his team scrape past QPCC 1-0 two match days ago, scored a double, while Aaron Stewart got the other goal. Petit Valley took the lead twice, through Smith, first in the 28th minute, which was cancelled out in the very next play by Rangers’ Marvin James, and just after the hour-mark, Smith put Valley up 2-1. His goal was equalled in the 68th minute by Joel James.
Two players, Sean Young of Rangers and David Charles of Petit Valley, were ejected for violent conduct. Petit Valley found their winning goal from Aaron Stewart in the 69th minute to celebrate the league title and the $12,000 cash prize.
Also on Wednesday, QPCC drew 2-2 with RSSR at the Aranjuez Savannah, but it was not enough to see the “Parkites” catch up to the eventual winners. Jason Devenish opened in the 16th minute for QPCC, before Dillon Anderson equalised for RSSR in the 25th minute.
In the 40th minute, Jason Charles then gave QPCC a 2-1 which stood into the half. RSSR’s Melville Kerdeen, however, scored the final goal of the match to make it 2-2 in the 73rd minute. Valley took the Big Four title with one match to spare, as the club won four and drew one of its matches, while Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) dropped to successive 1-0 defeats, after taking two 3-0 wins at the beginning of the competition.
Petit Valley will join back-to-back TFA champions St Clair’s Coaching school and SFA’s Siparia Spurs, along with Central winners Harlem Strikers, in the Champions of Champions competition, which grants the top two teams a place in the National Super League.
The Eastern Football Association title winner is yet to be determined. The last round of matches will take place on Sunday, with Petit Valley and QPCC facing each other, while St Ann’s Rangers takes on RSSR.