The BVI Masters won their inaugral Masters Tournament with a 3-0 win against the Combined Stars. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Merv "the swerve" Francis was named Best 'Keeper for a string of fine saves to help the Combined Stars reach the final. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Gregory Grant was named Tournament MVP by Keith Cornelious of Retroactive, for a weekend of influential play. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Early exchanges in the game were fairly even with both sides having no more than half chances, until a series of corners for the Masters built up pressure on the Combined Stars, who cracked when Danny Joseph was adjudged to foul an opposing player in the penalty box and the Referee pointed to the spot.

Kenmore Simmons calmly dispatched his shot past Mervyn Francis to open the scoring if not exactly the flood gates.

The lead was doubled in the second half when Joseph again found himself in trouble with the Officials, this time courtesy of a high arm on Dion Clarke, as Clarke was heading towards goal.

Joseph got his second yellow and his marching orders and once again a penalty was awarded, which Simmons made no mistake with.

The raising tempers of the Combined Stars  were pushed to the limit when yet another penalty was awarded to the Masters thanks to a high boot from Francis, who was leaping to catch the ball ahead of the advancing Clarke.

Humphrey Leue came on as a substitute to take the penalty against Mark Hall who replaced Francis in goal. A goal would have given Leue the Golden Boot award, but Hall stood his ground to complete an easy save.

It was left to Matthew Daley to put the icing on the Masters cake as he netted the third to give the tournament hosts the win and the trophy in their inaugural tournament.

The match of the tournament, despite the excitement of the final, was undoubtedly the semi-final clash between the Masters and the VG Masters which ended 4-3 to the Tortola team courtesy of a 49^th minute headed winner from Rodney Prince.

Jario Morris had given VG the lead when he powerfully headed home a free kick from Alex Green and the same player doubled the advantage with a rocket shot from 25 yards a few minutes later.

Leue pulled one back for the BVI Masters from the penalty spot after Clarke had been brought down and then in the dying seconds of the first half, Leue thumped home an equalizer.

Alvin St Ville restored the VG lead early in the second period, but Leue once again leveled the match from the penalty spot, before Prince stepped up to settle proceedings.

In the other semi-final, Combined Stars had overcome St Croix Retroactive thanks to goals from Hilton Matthew, who would claim the Golden Boot and Rohan Lenin.

The Tournament MVP was Gregory Grant

“It was a tremendous tournament, “ sated Keith Cornelius of Retroactive as he announced the award winners, including Francis as best Goalkeeper. “We are accustomed to winning…but this time we thought it best to let the hosts win so they would hold another tournament.”

Speaking after the trophy had been presented Leue commented, “In every final tension runs high, but in the end the stronger team won and we are very happy”. Leue was also very happy with the event overall “ based on the reactions it went very well, there are always things you can improve, but it’s been a successful weekend and we will be looking to hold another one next year.”