Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Members of the winning Boys' Town team lift the Western Union/Jackie Bell KO trophy after they scored an extra time 2-0 victory over Waterhouse in the final at the National Stadium yesterday. At right is the president of KSAFA Stewart Stephenson. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
TEN-MEN Boys' Town captured the Western Union Jackie Bell Knockout trophy with a hard fought 2-0 extra time win over Waterhouse at the National Stadium yesterday.
Goals by George Vernal and Troy Dawes in the 102nd and 111th minutes propelled the Red Brigade to their first lien on the premier corporate area knockout competition and $350,000.
Boys' Town turned in a courageous display, playing with 10 men for 34 minutes after Garfield Gillespie was shown a second yellow card in the 86th minute.
The Red Brigade also missed a 26th minute penalty when Wavel Williams' poorly struck spotkick was easily saved by goalkeeper Maurice Evans.
But Boys' Town were not to be denied. Vernal collected a pass on the edge of the box and rifled a torrid leftfooter pass the hapless Evans to open the scoring.
Then nine minutes later, Vernal turned provider with a defence splitting pass to substitute Troy Dawes who calmly slotted home to sealed the victory.
Winning coach Andrew Price, soaked from head to toe, was ecstatic about his team's victory and he couldn't hold back his joy.
"It was long on coming. It's being about three times that we have been to the Jackie Bell final and never won. For me it's a personal vindication because of the closeness that I had with Jackie Bell and I had always wanted to at least have a lien on this trophy," he said.
"The team was committed and we strive on adversity. We went down to ten men...were getting some questionable calls, but we battled on because we knew we could do it."
Boys' Town, who have just returned to the top league for the first time in ten years, finally got the better of Waterhouse in four clashes.
THE FITTEST
"I know my team is one of the fittest in the country and we will run any team in the ground. What you saw here today was Boys' Town running Waterhouse down into the ground. My team showed a lot of character today and I must compliment them," Price added.
Waterhouse, hunting their fifth hold on the trophy, was never able to dominate, even with a man advantage for the entire extra time period.
Wayne Fairclough, coach of Waterhouse said his team gave up some easy goals but was in full praise of his opponents.
"There comes a time when you have to look at the game in retrospect and know that it is a game that we lost because we gave up some soft goals".
"Hats off to Boys' Town, they played a good game. They are a team that plays good in all finals," he added.
Waterhouse collected $200,000 for their effort, while Constant Spring gained third place and $100,000 while fourth placed Harbour View received $50,000.
