Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
Boys' Town's double goalscorer, Troy Dawes, is carried off the ground by jubilant supporters after the south St. Andrew team yesterday made their way back to the National Premier League. Boys' Town defeated Los Perfectos 4-0 at Collie Smith Drive. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
AFTER 10 years in the wilderness, three-time champions Boys' Town are back in top-flight local football.
Yesterday, the Red Brigade snapped up the second and final remaining promotional spot for next season's Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) after soundly beating Manchester's Los Perfectos 4-0 at Collie Smith Drive.
Strikes from Troy Dawes (73rd and 84th minutes) and one apiece from Michael Campbell (56th) and Jermaine Bailey (35th) sent Andrew Price sprinting down the touch line on four occasions - as memories of the last time Boys' Town played in the Premier League flooded his thoughts.
'EXHILARATING' WIN
"I must confess that I could not sleep last night. We wanted it so bad," Price said.
Of his team's qualification, Price said "It is exhilarating. I was a member of that team that was relegated in 1994 so I am doubly happy that I could be involved in bringing the team back to the Premier League. This is the most significant thing that has happened at the club for 10 years. I told my players at half time 'Be part of that history by going out there and doing the job.'"
But he was not alone in his celebration. When referee Howard Stennett sounded his whistle for the final time in the game, a sea of spectators, mainly dressed in red, invaded the field to lift their heroes who had carried them back to the big league.
Losing coach Bradley Stewart felt that his team defended poorly but said Boys' Town did well enough to advance to the Premier League.
