Matthew Moss heads home the first of his three goals to tie the score at 1-1 on the stroke of halftime. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Rob Riley is left flapping at thin air as Odaine Reid's free kick from the half way line sails into the top corner to open the scoring. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Moss calmly strokes home from the penalty spot to complete his hat trick and hand the wolues a 3-2 win along with 3 points in their league opener. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

One Love controlled the game for long periods of the first half and created the more chances, taking the lead inside the first 15 minutes from a free kick on the half way line. But were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal when Moss equalized on the stroke of half time

Moss was penalized for a challenge on Chevaughn Williams, but there seemed little danger as Odaine Reid lofted the ball goal ward. The keeper, Rob Riley, came off his line, called for the ball, but then could only make a despairing effort to divert it as it sailed past him to nestle into the top right hand corner of the goal.

One Love continued to press forward looking to increase their advantage, but lacked composure in front of goal.

Williams missing a guilt edged chance when one on one with the keeper Green saw another shot from close range go wide and also pulled a muscle. He went off for treatment, tried to continue, but had to be replaced by David Grant, who stumbled with the goal at his mercy before Williams saw a shot well saved by Riley.

The Wolues began to get a foothold in the game when John Argyross flicked on a header into the path of James Shearman who put Omari Scott through on goal, but the resultant lacked the power to trouble Craig Sinclair in the One Love goal.

The warning bells had begun to ring in the One Love defence though as Shearman started pulling some midfield strings. He was well wide with a free kick, and then found his range with another, but Sinclair was alert to the danger as Scott and Declan Cassidy closed in. Shearman then floated another free kick into the box only for Mauricio Geninazzi to direct his header wide.

Geninazzi was a constant thorn in the One Love defense and caused some panic which almost caused an own goal. The resultant corner was cleared for another corner by Antonio Russell under pressure from Scott. Russell cleared the second effort out for yet another corner, but this time Geninazzi found the unmarked Moss who directed a powerful header downward and past Sinclair to level the scores.

The Wolues had the momentum after the break and went ahead on 50 minutes when the One Love defense failed to clear yet another Geninazzi corner, which again fell to Moss, who stabbed the ball home from close range.

However, One Love responded quickly to tie things up at 2-2 with another long range free kick as Williams finally found his shooting boots to curl home a 25 yard effort past Riley following a foul by Nick Messum.

The gamed was far from over with both teams creating chances before Russell made a clumsy challenge on Geninazzi on the six yard line, which gave the Referee no option but to point to the penalty spot. Moss was handed the chance to complete his hat trick and although it was his first spot kick in 8 years he made no mistake.

In the dyeing moments Scott had a half chance and Reid had a clear header for One Love following a Lenroy Murray corner, but saw his effort go wide.

The final whistle blew and the Wolues thanks to Moss had secured the 3 points.

“It was my first game in a little while” commented Moss “so obviously happy to score a hatrick, but the main thing was we won our first game of the season, got three points and got off to a great start”

Over in Virgin Gorda, the elusive win for Haitian Stars was finally captured when they overcame VG United 2-1.

The visitors’ victory margin should have been more emphatic had they not squandered several clear goal-scoring opportunities.

Former goal-keeper turned striker Gregory Atime was the man on target for the Haitian Stars, who registered their first win in any official competition since the club was formed just over a year ago and they will certainly be craving for some more sweet taste of victory as the league progresses.