Trevor Ellis (in yellow) scored the opening goal in One Love's 3-2 win over Rebels at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground, Tortola on February 18, 2018. Photo: Dean H. Greenaway aka 'The Sportsman'

Sugar Boys, seen here in jubilant mood after winning the President’s Cup in front of a packed vociferous crowd at the AO Shirley Recreation Ground on Sunday February 12, 2017, turned back the challenge of Islanders in opening play of the 2018 BVI Football Association's National League on Virgin Gorda on February 18, 2018. Photo: VINO/File

The Virgin Gorda Recreation Ground, home of both the Sugar Boys and VG Utd, welcomed the Islanders for the first game of the season and a large partisan crowd were not disappointed as the youthful Andres Bailey put the hosts a goal to the good in just the 7^th minute.

The lead lasted over an hour before Nano Ottley fired home the leveler in the 69^th minute to quell the noise coming from the main stand. However, Sugar Boys would not be denied and soon had their supporters back on their feet when Mohammed Kachour, last season’s second highest goal scorer, smashed home what turned out to be the winner in the 79^th minute.

One Love prevails

The second game of opening day, over on the A.O. Shirley Ground on Tortola, was no less of a thriller, with another large crowd witnessing Trevor Ellis give One Love the lead in the 17^th minute, before Chadwick Evans gave the Rebels a slight half time advantage with strikes in the 19^th and 42^nd minute.

An inspired second half performance though from One Love first saw Carl Stewart level the game at 2-2 in the 60^th minute, before with just ten minutes of normal time to go, Talisman, Richard Morgan made sure of all three points with a decisive third goal for One Love.