A second brace in two games over 4 days, by the recently returning Marcelino “Bassa” Blackburn, consolidated HVFC in the third position on 22 points, at the End of Round One, while it catapulted him up the goalscoring tables with 5 goals from just 4 games in Round One.
He continues to “Poke a thumb in the eyes” of his former Club, by scoring on almost every occasion he plays there since being rejected.’
The wiry, left-footer seized the initiative throughout the game to be named “Man-of-the-Match” and in many slick combinations with Jermaine Hue, they mesmerized the opponents until eventually scoring twice from freekicks.
The first was when Hue was fouled about 28 yards from goal, on the right as the wall and goalkeepers peered over in expectation of another looping or dipping shot. Surprised by the rasping grounder that slid across the damp surface at high pace a maze of bewildered defenders flinched while sticking out a desperate toe to the whistling ball, as it deflected numerous times like a clatter of balls bouncing on a Billard Table before the fortunate deflection from Blackburn condemned Arnett to a secondary role from minute 66 onwards.
It brought a welcome relief to Coach, Donovan Hayles who watched anxiously from the bench as his team missed some easy opportunities earlier to lead.
Kemar Pertrekin worked enough space to shoot but his strike was blocked on the line by Ricardo Smith. Then the Hue/Blackburn combination kicked in down the left flank just before the half ended. Blackburn relayed an accurate cross to Petrekin to skip and deceive two defenders, as John-Ross Edwards arrived at the far post his seemingly easy tap in was missed from 16 yards, as he skied it over the crossbar to his utter dismay. The young player walked from the field confused at not converting the easiest of chances that he does ten times a day and twenty times on Sundays.
It is called “Football” my friend…someone whispered quietly in his ear as he passed down the tunnel towards the changing room to reflect.
On the resumption, the home team created the first real chance to go in front, but Dwayne Plummer was denied by goalkeeper, Michaud Barrett, on two occasions. immediately on the counter, Petrekin broke free but, Leighton Murray was quick off his line to foil the danger.
Arnett had a good spell afterwards as they searched for an equaliser, and Ryan Reid’s free-kick had to be tipped over by Barrett. An ingenious piece of play by veteran Kevin “Pele” Wilson, almost led to a goal for the homesters 10 minutes from time, and it took a mad scramble by the Harbour View defense before the ball was eventually cleared.
However, with three minutes remaining, Hue and Blackburn combined again to give the “Stars-of-the-East” their second goal. The veteran midfielder spayed a 40 yards pass from just behind the halfline, into the path of the midfielder streaking down the left unmolested, who directed his shot past Murray from just inside the area.
Arnett Gardens were silenced as Blackburn joyfully celebrated with his own special Dance Moves.
St George’s Sport Club, qualified for their first major final since returning to the Premier League two seasons ago, after they defeated Village United 1-0 at Lynch Park on Oshane Dobson’s 34th minute to join Tivoli Gardens in this Sunday’s first-end-of-round.
The Portlanders finished second with 24 points, the same as Tivoli Gardens FC, who played to a 0-0 stalemate with Portmore United at the Ferdie Neita Park. Meanwhile, Harbour View FC (22 Points) who were in with a chance of making it to the End-of-Round One Final, got two goals from home town boy, Marcelino Blackburn, to beat Arnett 2-0 at the Tony Spaulding Complex.
The “End-of-Round-One-Finals” takes place on Sunday, November 8th at the National Stadium starting at 7pm.