BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — MFCR Old Road United Jets have officially secured their place in the National Bank Group-sponsored SKNFA Premier League Finals following an emphatic 3-0 victory over Honda Newtown United in Final Four Playoff action on Wednesday, May 6, at the National Bank Group Technical Centre.
Star forward Tiquanny Williams delivered a sensational hat-trick, scoring in the 46th minute, 56th minute, and stoppage time to lead Old Road to a commanding victory and maintain the club’s unbeaten run this season.
The intense encounter also saw disciplinary action on both sides. Old Road’s Trevor Hanley and Nejohn Brown were sent off after receiving second yellow cards in the second half, while Newtown’s Kimron Browne was dismissed in the first half.
Following the match, Old Road Head Coach Alexis Morris praised his players for handling the pressure and responding positively in the second half.
“I will use one word to summarize tonight’s game — pressure,” Morris stated. “There are a lot of things we are trying to solidify: an unbeaten season, reaching the finals, and achieving several firsts. Naturally, there was pressure.”
Morris explained that halftime discussions focused on mentality and composure, which sparked a major turnaround in the team’s performance.
“We told the players to use the pressure as motivation and momentum. We saw a drastic change in the second half. The players stayed committed to the task, weathered the storm, and earned the victory,” he added.
The result keeps Old Road unbeaten heading into their final preliminary-round fixture before the championship showdown.
Race for Second Finals Spot Remains Open
Meanwhile, the battle for the second finals berth remains highly competitive after Azul Cayon Rockets played to a 1-1 draw with Development Bank St. Peters FC in the evening’s opening match.
Malik Hendrickson put Cayon ahead late in the second half, but Rocco Browne capitalised on a defensive error moments later to secure an important equaliser for St. Peters.
Cayon Assistant Coach Anthony “Nets” Isaac acknowledged that his side struggled to maintain control after taking the lead.
“Even though we were trying to extend the lead, we pushed too far forward, slipped up, and got caught on the counterattack,” Isaac explained.
St. Peters Technical Director Austin Huggins praised his team’s determination and tactical adjustments, which allowed them to fight back for a crucial point.
“We would have preferred all three points, but the players responded well late in the game,” Huggins said. “We changed the formation, pushed more players forward, and managed to get the equaliser. Now we will continue working and focus on the next match.”
Final Preliminary Matches Set for Saturday
The preliminary round of the Final Four Playoffs concludes on Saturday, May 9, with Development Bank St. Peters FC taking on Honda Newtown United. Although Newtown has already been eliminated, St. Peters remains mathematically in contention for a finals berth with a convincing victory and favourable results elsewhere.
The feature match will see already-qualified MFCR Old Road United Jets face Azul Cayon Rockets. Cayon need a victory to guarantee their place in the finals, although a draw could be enough depending on the outcome of the St. Peters-Newtown fixture.
Gates open at 4:00 p.m. for both matches.