Harbour View are the 2010 Claro KSAFA Champions League kingpins, after substitute Ranique Muir powered them to a 2-1 win over Boys’ Town in the final at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex late yesterday evening.
The east-Kingston team walked away with the championship trophy and a handsome $250,000 for their efforts, while the runners-up had to settle for $150,000.
Last year’s winners Waterhouse benefited from two own goals to beat Cavalier to third place by a 2-0 margin. They also walked away with the $100,000 third-place cash prize, while Cavalier earned $50,000.
In the big one, both teams took their time to get settled after a tentative start, but after the opening jitters, it was Boys’ Town who were looking the more dangerous of the two Premier League heavyweights.
Former schoolboy prodigy, Marvin Morgan Jr, was gifted the first real opportunity after 11 minutes, but could not take full advantage after his shot from just inside the box with the outside of his boot went well wide, with the goal at his mercy.
The Red Brigade were at it again in the 20th minute when Dean Thompson’s ferocious volley from the vicinity of the penalty spot forced a picture-perfect one-handed reaction save from goalkeeper Michaud Barrett.
Harbour View worked their way into the contest and should have opened their account at the half-hour mark, but Rafeik Thomas and Marcelino Blackburn ran into each other at the back post and killed the chance for a simple tap in. The chance was created by Jahmali Spence, who played the ball across the face of go after out-muscling two Boys’ Town defenders.
Missed opportunities
Thomas was at it again seven minutes later, but he failed to get the better of Kirk Porter in the Boys’ Town goal, after being played behind the defensive line. The striker must have been surprised to find himself with only Porter to beat, but could find no way around the keeper after he tried to dribble instead of taking a shot on goal.
Substitute Mark Newsome’s tame left-footed shot from the top of the box was saved off the line by Montrose Phinn in the 60th minute, in what was Boys’ Town’s last real chance of the game.
Harbour View’s winner came after Muir beat Porter to a through ball, before poking it into the goal after it seemed easier for the goalkeeper to win the ball.
Winning coach Donovan Hayles was satisfied with his team’s performance and the triumph.
“I’m satisfied. I think both teams can be satisfied with their play tonight,” said Hayles. “Boys’ Town started stronger but when we consolidated defensively we did very well and all in all we were strong, even though the game could have gone either way.”
Boys Town’s Andrew Price thought his team gave a fair effort, but suffered from fatigue.
“We dominated for long periods but I think the guys were a little leg-weary tonight. We just started training so the conditioning is not where it needs to be. We weren’t effective on the ball and this is where we lost the game,” added Price.