Two world class goals in the first half by Captain, Jermaine Hue and striker, Kavin Bryan was just too much for a stunned looking Tivoli Gardens FC as the “The Stars of the East” shun brightest on a day when both Clubs wanted to boast a new title, trophy and triumph.
The cardinal error was made when Oriane Simpson inflicted an infringement on the smooth ball-handler Rafiek Thomas about 22 yards from goal, to the right, better known as “Jermaine Hue territory”!
With the precision of a surgeon, Hue carved out a top-drawer free-kick that swerved wickedly over the wall, then dipped at an instant to evade the diving effort of former teammate and National goalkeeper Leon Gordon, lodging comfortably in the “rat-hole”, the deadliest of kicks at the sixth minute to set the game alight and the National Stadium getting into a tissy.
Harbour View stroked the ball around the field with authority born out of sound rehearsals, as the four man midfield of Hue, Richard Edwards, Lovel Palmer and Marcelino Blackburn called the tune merrily, supported by the leagues most solid defensive unit of Dicoy Williams, Lennox Wright, Ronnie Amaguana making his seasonal debut, completed by Lance Laing and young goalkeeper, Dwayne Miller who must surely be amongst the best in the land.
While the first goal was of exquisite quality, the second was out of this world.
Seven passes from the back was initiated in the right then relayed across field to the overlapping Laing, who with oceans of space curled an accurate cross to the back-post for the lurking figure of Kavin Bryan, to pounce.
He ran three steps of the ball before flinging himself aerially across the standing figure of Kasai Hinds to smash the ball with his torpedoed forehead away from Gordon in goal, as the now shocked Tivolities were transfixed in a warped timezone of despair and awesome wonder, questioning what just hit them as they dragged themselves back to the halfline to restart the game, that for all intents and purposes was well and truly over within 30 minutes…and they knew it.
The roof of the stadium lifted with unbridled joy as the rapture engulfed the supporters in unison, silencing what before that were abusive Tivoli fans who invaded the HVFC section to spew their insultive venom on the quieter Harbour View fans awaiting their moment of glory, that had just arrived.
The deadly silence of the group of Smokers, drinkers and loud-talking aggressive supporters had just disappeared into oblivion as reality kicked in with a mighty force that lingered towards the half’s end indicating HVFC 2 Tivoli Gardens 0.
The story already told, the last rights were left to be administered in the second stanza but HVFC pulled the throttle to save precious Gas for the more important league games, as the second round begins next week Sunday against Village United in Trelawny.
The defensive stance in the second half brought unnecessary pressure on the defensive unit as a few half chances were evident, one such seemed clearly offside as a return pass on the right was played across the face of the goal but no player came close to getting it, as the crowd labeled it “poetic justice”.
Strange calls continued until low and behold a corner kick that was in the hands of the goalkeeper was knocked away and dropped fortunately for a Tivoli player to scramble over the line as Referee Courtney Campbell allowed it, much to the chagrin of the team and custodian Dwayne Miller was gutted as he pleaded for mercy to the two game officials with blank responses only.
That could not mar a splendid performance that crowned the “Stars of the East” once again as the 2008 Digicel End of First Round Champions.
Orderly they climbed the 26 stadium Grandstand stairs to received the new Trophy from Paula Pinnock-McLeod of Digicel, accompanied by Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange, JFF President, Captain Horace Burrell and PLCA Chairman, The Most Honourable Edward Seaga before Captain, Jermaine Hue hoisted the trophy above his head to set of a final set of celebrations by the team and supporters, as many cameras flashed wildly about capturing the moment.