Empire hold Paradise to draw in BFA Women’s League

Empire twice came from behind to hold league leaders Paradise to a 2-2 draw on Sunday, ending their six-match winning streak in the Barbados Football Association’s Kotex Women’s League. Paradise, who remain the league’s only unbeaten side, took the lead twice at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey before Empire battled back on both occasions. Playing in the nightcap encounter, Paradise went ahead in the seventh minute through Soraya Toppin-Herbert. Empire levelled in the 36th minute through Lorell Romain, with the score remaining 1-1 at half-time. Paradise regained the lead in the 55th minute when Shanice Stevenson scored to make it 2-1, but Empire responded once again, with Asha Stevenson equalising in the 78th minute. There were no further goals as Paradise dropped their first points of the season. Earlier, bottom-of-the-table Police recorded their first victory of the season with a 4-1 win over Whitehall. Shauntae Hinds handed Police the lead after converting a penalty in the fourth minute before Renee Burke doubled their advantage in the 25th. Whitehall pulled one back through Serena Jackman in the 49th minute, but Hinds struck again in the 75th to make it 3-1. Burke then converted a penalty in added time to complete the scoring. The first round of the competition concludes on Tuesday at the BFA Technical Centre, when Paradise face Technique. (KH)