Success breeds success ? so it seems in St. David?s

After watching their counterparts in cricket relieve Bailey?s Bay of the Eastern Counties Cup in late August, St.David?s? First Division football team, dubbed the Warriors, have been enjoying success of their own since the new campaign began last month.

In six outings so far, the Warriors have banged in an remarkable 24 goals, allowed a stingy four against and have yet to taste defeat ? all this after dropping out of Bermuda Football Association ranks and then being reinstated at the eleventh hour.

?At one stage we weren?t even sure if we were going to have a team,? said club player Otis Minors

The veteran forward was alluding to an internal dispute at the club which eventually led to Wilbur Pitcher?s resignation as president. Russell Richardson has since succeeded Pitcher.

?The community have really shown their support and overall I think our players are playing with a bit more pride,? said Minors.

The Islanders? tough defence has been marshalled by Milton Jones and player/coach Aaron Lugo along with the fine ?keeping of Sidney Minors.

Well-known cricketers Loren Marshall and Ankoma Cannonier have also played vital roles in the team?s backline while scoring duties up front have been evenly spread around.

But despite getting their season off to a flying start, there?s one word Minors prefers to keep heavily guarded ? and that?s promotion.

?Our goal is really to play attractive football and to be honest I think we have surprised ourselves,? he added.

Other vital cogs in the team are Trinidadian assistant coach Wayne Henry and long-serving team official and UBP senator Kenny Bascome.

Bascome is current manager of the team.

?Hopefully we can maintain our good form until the Christmas break and then beyond,? Minors said. ?Traditionally we have always been a team which starts strong but finishes slow. So our intent is to try and continue on in this good vein of form, take things one match at a time and then see where we stand come second-half of the season.?

Minors? team-mate Kijuan Franks, however, has other thoughts in mind ? First Division Shield glory.

Franks and his fellow team-mates suffered heartbreak in last season?s Shield final at the National Sports Centre, losing to Ireland Rangers in their third appearance on the ?Carpet?.

?I would like to win the Shield. We?ve come too close to winning it before,? said Franks, who also plays Premier Division and Eastern Counties cricket at Flatts.

?Last year was a real heartbreaker against Ireland Rangers. But now it?s time to set the record straight because we are tired of being bridesmaids.?

Franks managed to get in on the scoring act during the Islanders? 5-0 thrashing of Prospect United last Sunday at Police Field.

?We have a very balanced attack. Everybody is hungry to hit the back of the net,? he smiled.

Drawing comparison between the squad?s current nucleus to those of years gone by, one major difference Franks attributes present success to is discipline.

And as for promotion, the imposing forward notes: ?Only time will tell.?