With playoff matchups already set, the only thing that could said to be really on the line in Wednesday’s Johnson Insurance Challenge Cup provincial senior men’s soccer game was the league’s scoring title.
And as it turned out, that was pretty much decided before the contest was even played, meaning Tyler Kirby of Holy Cross continues to top the circuit with 13 goals, two more than Emmanuel Dolo of Feildians.
Holy Cross has completed its regular-season schedule, meaning Dolo had a chance to tie or overtake Kirby Wednesday when Feildians played their final contest of the regular schedule as they took on Paradise at King George V Park in St. John’s.
However, with three yellow cards, Dolo ran the risk of missing the first game of the playoffs if he picked up a fourth. So, as a precaution, he sat out Wednesday’s game, a 5-1 Feildians win.
There are still a couple games left in the regular season – in St. Lawrence Saturday and Sunday as Paradise travels to the Burin Peninsula to play the Laurentians.
That means the scoring title isn’t official for Kirby, although it would be fair to call him the presumptive champ; of the players who could play in St. Lawrence on the weekend the Laurentians’ Jordi Slaney is the top scorer with four goals
On Wednesday, Iain Gamba, Carter Mackey, Marek Naknieczy, Greg Reid and John Furlong scored for Feildians. Riley Mercer replied for Paradise.
Playoffs are set to open next Friday, Oct. 9, at King George V.
The Page Playoff 1-2 game between Holy Cross and Feildians is 5 p.m., followed by the 8:30 p.m. 3-4 game between C.B.S. Strikers FC and St. Lawrence.
The 1-2 winner goes straight to Sunday’s final. The 3-4 winner takes on the 1-2 loser in a Saturday semifinal
