St George’s 1

Devonshire Colts 1

There were all smiles at Wellington Oval yesterday as St George’s gained promotion to the Premier Division after a 1-1 draw against fellow promotion chasers Devonshire Colts.

Jarizinho Bassett opened the scoring for St George’s ten minutes before the half-time whistle before Teniko Eve levelled matters for Colts.

But, try as they might for the final 15 minutes, the leading scorers in the First Division could not muster a 54th goal that would have returned them to the top flight for the first time since 2009-10.

As it was, the point was good enough for the east-enders to go up as runners-up in the First Division, with Robin Hood having crept over the line at the opposite end of the Island as champions on goal difference after a 1-1 draw with Ireland Island Rangers at Malabar Field.

“It is a great result, the match was good all the way around and in the end we got the job done,” Kameron Fox, the St George’s coach, said.

“We knew Colts would come into the match in the second half because they needed a result, but in the end we held on and we can celebrate.

“I did go a little negative in the tactics that allowed them back in the match, but we got the job done, although we could have got the win to win the league.”

With both sides leaving nothing to chance, the match was played at a fast pace throughout. Bassett’s goal gave the home side a deserved lead after they dominated the first half, beating his marker to the ball to slide past Greg Rose from close range.

With their backs against the wall and desperate not to be consigned to a fourth straight season in the backwater of domestic football, Colts bossed much of the second half as St George’s sat back, looking to play on the counter-attack.

The visiting side almost got back on level terms midway through the second half when David Signor, the St George’s defender, was on hand to clear an Eli Smith shot off the line, goalkeeper Charles Marshall Jr stranded.

Eve would not be denied for much long, though, as capped a good exchange of short passes with captain Lozendro Symonds before powering home a 12-yard shot from a tight angle.

Although they were camped in their own half for long spells, St George’s did have chances to put the match to bed, but the uncertainty of Wesley Stovell in front of goal when in good positions made for a tense finish.

Despite wave after wave of attacks, St George’s held their nerve and ensured that their a quick return to the Premier Division. “We will take this and go up and we will prepare for the top flight,” Fox said.

“It was a tale of two halves — we had the first one, they had the second — but my reason for going defensive was the mindset that they have to score two goals. To come down here and try to go that was always going to be difficult.”

In the day’s other matches in the First Division, Somerset Eagles ended their campaign on a winning note, as they beat Boulevard 3-0 at Police Field, X-Roads beat Paget 3-0 at Garrison Field and while BAA Wanderers drew 1-1 with Young Men’s Social Club at Goose Gosling Field.