Young Darian McNain clinches exciting extra time victory in the 120th minute!
The beautiful setting at St. Elizabeth High School was flooded with eager football enthusiasts as they filed into the newly developed arena in Buses, Cars, Bicycles and on foot.
Vehicular traffic blocked two sides of the road as the heavily marketed event dominated the locally promoted Carnival Parade.
UNDER 21 CROWN:
The march was opened at 12:30pm as Tivoli Gardens attempted to and in the end captured the End of Second Round Trophy by scoring as late as the 82nd minute when Damion Gordon nipped between two defenders to score.
PREMIER LEAGUE:
Prominently placed under the official’s tent, the coveted trophy glistened in the glimmering sunlight as intermittent periods of light showers sprinkled all afternoon.
A roar went up as the “Stars of the East” entered the enclosed area, not to be outdone the Westmoreland fans raised a loud noise as their team strode forward to battle.
Two technically sound teams, a rich mix of talented players both senior and junior paraded the skills in front of Technical Director, Velibor “Bora” Mulitinovic, the Live Television and Radio audiences and the thousands of fans in the venue.
Trading attacks were the order of the day as Reno shot wide from 11 yards then Fabian Taylor’s header was well held by National Under 20 goalkeeper Dwayne Kerr. Immediately followed by Rafiek Thomas whose toe-poke evading the grasp of Kerr’s advance to bounce just wide of a gapping goal.
The left sided cross was glanced wide as the Reno attacker came under severe pressure and almost in duplicate the Harbour View forward failed to steer the side-footer on goal.
Stout defensive units, coordinated midfield and strong ball possessive tactics dominated the game punctuated by strong tackles and powerful burst of speed designed to penetrate.
A connoisseurs football feast unfolded all afternoon spoilt somewhat by good goalkeeping at both ends of the field as National Under 21 reserve goalkeeper, Dwayne Miller rivaled his team-mate.
Kemeel Wolfe came closest when Robert Scarlett’s left-sided square was nodded just outside the right upright in minute 41.
The second half mirrored the first as both teams probe relentlessly going forward, side to side, back and across, individual skills and disciplined team plays but still no goals. Kemeel Wolfe again would come even closer when he swerved inside to let fly a looping left-footer from 24 yards that smashed onto the crossbar before bouncing out of play.
Long range shots became the order of the day from both teams as Jermaine Hue’s low 21 yard drive from wide on the left touch line had Kerr scrambling to hold on as it rolled away for a corner just outside his near post.
Miller displayed clean hands as he coped with the only shot on target as the Reno efforts ended wide of the mark. The game ended at 0-0.
Extra time never helped either team as the work rate was still intense and the exchanges favoured no one as Lovel Palmer was dominant defensively as Nicholi Findlayson plugged away at initiating attacks. Hue and Taylor orchestrated attacks as Christopher Harvey and Jermaine Taylor secured the back as Harbour View dominated for the last 35 minutes with experienced
players Reno let loose younger fresher legs that tested the backline constantly on the counter attack right to the end.
Marks man Nyron Davis struck a vicious shot straight at Miller who again handled well but it was the second surge by Fabian Blake down the centre of the field that created the most telling blow almost at the games end.
He made his way into the area to elude the challenge of Harvey and Miller slipping his pass to substitute 18 year old Manning’s High student Darian McNain to score from 7 yards ahead of Jermaine Taylor’s challenge.
30 seconds on the clock, ticked off much too quickly as Harbour View tried to register one last attack that never materialized.
Reno celebrates it’s first trophy at this level since 1995, long into the night.
Congratulations to all concerned!!!