Weymouth Wales Claim Victory in Barbados Republic Cup Final Despite Challenges

Weymouth Wales are undeniably the undisputed kings of football in Barbados.

In an emotionally charged final at the Wildey AstroTurf on Sunday night that saw five players sent off, Wales kept their composure to demolish Wotton 6-1 and win the Republic Cup and take home $30 000 for the second successive year.

The lopsided scoreline, however, did not reflect the competitiveness of the game, which was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation time.

A goalless first half saw both team missing several opportunities, with Wales having the most clear cut chance when Zeco Edmee found himself open in front of goal, but Wotton defender Rico Lorde came to his side’s rescue with a sliding tackle to avert any danger.

The speedy Nadre Butcher was a constant threat on the left wing for Wales, but despite some promising runs into the box he found no success in the final third.

The drama unfolded in the second half, when Wales’ Mario Williams along with Rickneco Marshall and Rico Lorde from Wotton were all sent off in the 47th minute after being involved in an altercation.

But despite being down to nine-men, Wotton took a surprise lead in the 67th minute when Omani Leacock’s pinpoint pass sent Jamal Chandler clean through on goal and he kept his cool to slot past Wales’ advancing keeper Kishmar Primus to make it 1-0.

However, three minutes later the Christ Church-based side failed to properly defend their advantage and paid the price when Akeem Ifill’s header from a Wales corner took a deflection on its way into the back of the net past Wotton’s custodian Saheka Duke to make it 1-1.

Wales were also reduced to nine men in the 82nd minute when Ifill received a second yellow card for a dangerous challenge on Chandler, setting the stage for an exciting finish.

And Wotton should have grabbed the winning goal minutes from full time when Darian King found himself one-on-one with Primus after Wales thought he was offside.

But to Wotton’s dismay, King sent his left-footed shot wide of the post with the goal at his mercy.

That miss proved to be extremely costly for Wotton, as Wales ran rampant in extra time.

Wales made it 2-1 in the 91st minute after Hayden Holligan played a neat 1-2 with Zachary Applewhite on the right side of the box, before Applewhite laid it off to Shaquille Stuart who slotted home from point blank range.

Six minutes later Butcher fittingly gave the defending champions a two-goal cushion when he produced another brilliant run on the left flank, rounded an advancing Duke and buried his shot in the back of an empty net.

Leacock then made things worse for Wotton when he too was given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card.

Applewhite (107th minute), Renaldo Marques (111th) and Stuart, who grabbed a brace in the 113th minute, then completed the rout.

For Wales’ head coach Carlos Jackman, the result was a dream come true, with his side having already copped the Premier League and Champions Cup titles.