Richard Bryan, Freelance Writer
MANDEVILLE, MANCHESTER:
CARLINGTON SMITH produced two stunning goals to lead his team, Old Harbour, to a 2-1 victory over Rusea's and their first taste of the rural schoolboy football success.
Smith scored in the 32nd minute to give Old Harbour a 1-0 lead and was the hero near the end of the game when he unleashed a lethal left-footed strike in the fifth minute of extra time. Midfielder Damion Watson had replied for Rusea's in the 89th minute to send the Ben Francis Cup KO final into extra time.
The two teams featured in a competitive daCosta Cup clash a week earlier and yesterday's encounter lived up to its pre-match billing as an epic contest.
There were qualitative exchanges from the two throughout the game, producing end-to-end action and Smith's solo gems were the icing on the cake for the more than 4,000 spectators at Brancourt.
A burst of heavy rain shelved the planned handing-over ceremony of the Cup by Ben Francis, the former Vere Technical principal for whom the Cup is named.
Winning coach Bill Martin said the Cup was a fitting way to end the season although he would have preferred the DaCosta Cup.
"This win is very important for Old Harbour as before this year nobody knew about Old Harbour in football. It should set off something good for next year or in the future," Martin said.
Losing coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams said there was no embarrassment in losing as the teams had produced a good match and, for Rusea's, the bigger tasks of winning the daCosta Cup and the Olivier Shield were still ahead.
"We really wanted this title but we can't win all, especially when we are playing a good side. Old Harbour played well," Williams said.
