By Carlena Knight
Former Antigua Premier League (APL) champions Cool and Smooth ACT Empire remain as front runners in the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) Division One league.
The west-side team handed SAP FC their second loss of the season, hammering them 5-0 at home.
Rakeem Joseph recorded a hattrick for the victors scoring in the 35th, 60th and 77th minutes. Teammates, Nyque Watkins (78th), and Ratijah Davis (79th), contributed with goals of their own.
Empire moved four points clear of second place FC Aston Villa after this latest win.
SAP slipped to 4th with 27 points.
Villa were also victorious that day trouncing newly promoted Bolans FC, 6-1.
Omega Jeffrey recorded a hattrick for the victors while teammate Rivero Torres Yasnay was however one goal shy of a hattrick himself.
Kwame Ture Kirby rounded off the tally in the second half.
Bolans’ Orlando Peters scored their lone goal.
Bolans slipped to 9th with 13 points.
In the other 1st Division encounter, Tryum FC thrashed Potters Tigers, 7-1.
Dario Myers recorded a hattrick for the victors who found the back of the net in minute five, 65 and 72.
Curlon Joseph had a brace hitting home in the 35th and 62nd minutes while teammates, Alex Ashton and Ashanti Lawrence, chipped in with goals of their own.
Potters’ Xavier Grayman scored their lone goal in the 50th minute. Potters remain in the dreaded relegation zone with five points while Tryum jumped to 3rd with 27.
Meanwhile, in Division Two Zone 1 action, front runners, Garden Stars, trounced Mahico Stars, 7-0, while Pares FC went under to Attacking Saints, 3-1.
Garden Stars moved to 36 points while Mahico remain in the 13th spot with four points, and Attakcing Saints moved to 5th with 29 points.
Pares remain at the bottom of the table with one point.