Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
IN A game that was more about the honouring of a fixture than playing quality football, Village United defeated the already-relegated Rivoli 5-3 yesterday at the Elliston Wakeland field.
Newton Sterling, who was recently named in a national squad for a friendly against the United States later this month, scored a double while Jeff Pearce, Nicardo Folkes and Damion Newton had one goal each.
The game lost any pretence of a serious encounter when Sterling headed home a Troy Smith cross in the first minute. Immediately after the clowning started and Athol Franklyn was soon ejected for retaliating to what he deemed a rough challenge.
Derrick Planter converted a lovely free kick in the 24th minute to make it 1-1 but Pearce put his team back in front in the 33rd minute.
Folkes got in on the scoring act after an overlapping run in the 53rd minute. After losing his footing he got up to lace into an empty net after goalkeeper Moshel Nelson had charged out of his goal. It was beginning to look like a rout 13 minutes later when Sterling slotted home his second.
The careless play of Village United allowed David Lewis to score the second for his team in the 73rd minute redirecting a cross from Damion Gordon past an uninterested Elvis Hart in goal for Village. Damion Newton decided to take a penalty himself after earning his second and converted it to give his team a 5-2 lead. Sterling had missed the first.
Planter scored his second from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute to add some respectability to the scoreline.
"We have already been relegated so we were giving the Under-21 players Premier League experience," said Rivoli coach Calvert Fitzgerald about his players' performance.
Besides the three points from the game, what made Village?s day was the contribution of $200,000 to the club by IGL whose general manager Bryan Parbohie handed over the cheque.
GOALSHEET
Village 5
Newton Sterling (1st, 66th)
Jeff Pearce (33rd)
Nicardo Folkes (53rd)
Damion Newton (78th)
Rivoli 3
Derrick Planter (24th, 83rd)
David Lewis (73rd)
