Some of the players of Virgin Gorda United. VG United will be playing One Love FC in the Final of the 2024 Presidents Cup, Photo: BVIFA/Facebook/File

The quartet of VI National team players who all play for One Love FC and combined for six of the seven goals scored against Wolues FC. From left: Johari Lacey, who scored three, Miquel Marshall, one, Justin Smith, one and Tyler Forbes, one. Photo: Provided

Wolues mauled

The first semifinal saw the 2023/4 National League Champions, Wolues FC, defeated by their predecessors, One Love, 1-7, as Johari Lacey netted a hat trick, scoring in the 37^th, 45^th and 50^th minutes, almost single-handily securing his sides victory.

Lacey’s VI National teammate Tyler Forbes had earlier put One Love ahead, but Alexander Edwards equalised for Wolues in the 17^th minute.

With ranks swollen by returning National team players Justin Smith and Miquel Marshall, One Love easily controlled the game in the second half with the pair plus Dwayne Smith were also on the scoresheet, as the team that lost only one game in six to sneak into the top four progressed into the final where they will face VG United.

“It was a very good game,” commented One Love coach Javon Carty. “There was a bit of controversy at the start as we welcomed back our national team players, but they had been registered for a couple of years and the FA had no issues. Kudos to Johari for his hattrick and hats off to Wolues for their part in an exciting game of football.”

VG United sink Islanders

The Boys from VG cruised past Islanders FC, 3-0, on goals from T’Khoy Morton (58^th min), Joel Mars, who netted from the penalty spot in the 70^th minute and Kijuan Nimblett in the 76^th minute.

“It’s always a cracking game when we play Islanders,” noted Manager of VG United Jermain Abrams. “They are a team we look to emulate with the number of trophies they have won and the players they have had. It was action from start to finish and despite some heroics in their goal from Monty Butler we scored the goals that mattered. We outshot them, had more corners, but they came back at us strong early in the second half, but we weathered the storm, kept the ball better and once we had the two-goal cushion, bossed the rest of the game. Coaches Glenn Bascombe, Richie Morton take a lot of the credit for reaching the final and the entire team performed really well, now we will look to cap off the season with some silverware next week.”

According to the BVI Football Association (BVIFA), the final of the Presidents Cup is scheduled for Sunday June 30, 2024, but all details will be confirmed in the next day or two.