Village cry foul after loss

 Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

A controversial moment when national player Troy Smith of Village United was carded and his initial penalty kick overturned, overshadowed an afternoon at Brancourt when Sporting Central Academy's 's Bahamian recruit, Lesly St Fleur, scored in the 39th to give them a 1-0 win over Village United.

It was Sporting's first points in the 2011-12 National Premier League after a 2-1 loss away to Portmore in last weekend's opening round.

Fleur, a diminutive player, stocky and no taller than five feet, five inches, used his size and pace, to pounce on to a ball delivered into the 18-yard area. He then ditched defender Cordel Simpson and fired from his left foot. The ball then lifted off like a rocket and travelled no less than a foot from the ground, giving Andre Plummer in goal no chance.

Plummer would later deny Fleur a second goal when he came with a brilliant save to stop another 'rocket' from his right foot. He also came up with an even better save to prevent what appeared a sure goal from substitute Andre Allen, that seemed destined for the pigeonhole.

Thorn in the side

Fleur's pace and trickery continued to be a thorn in the side of Village. Eventually, they had Plummer to thank for no further goals, especially after they had been stripped to 10 players with 25 minutes remaining.

The red card to Troy Smith, after he received a second yellow for stopping Fleur's run at goal, had been preceded by a controversial moment, that elicited a lot of debate after the game.

That crucial moment came in the 61st minute when a penalty was correctly ordered after Dale Watson took out Dino Williams as he attempted a run into the area. Smith stepped up and using a stutter and start run, outfoxed the Sporting custodian Triston Huntley in diving early and the wrong way. However, referee Valdin Legister called back the play and yellow-carded Smith for unfair play.

Consecutive saves

The retaken kick was parried by Huntley for a corner. Huntley then produced two consecutive saves off the resulting corners to send his teammates and fans into celebratory mode.

The loss of a dejected Smith five minutes later, after he was forced to check Fleur's run at goal, summed up the afternoon for the Village players and management. In fact, judging by their responses, they feel they were dealt with harshly.

Kendale Mercury, Village's head coach, told The Gleaner: "Everybody knows that's how Troy takes his penalty. Even though the rule has changed, the fact is the goalkeeper dove early."

Even while he conceded, the referee had the right to call back the play, he felt carding the player in the circumstance was unnecessary.

"Having taken away the goal, I think he could have explained to him about the new rule and giving him a card then was harsh in my view."

Sporting Central's coach Vassell "Tutu' Reynolds differed, describing Legister's call as "brave" and coming from a "confident referee".