Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

FROME TECHNICAL High School captured the first rural title of the ISSA/Pepsi/JN schoolboy football season yesterday when they defeated Clarendon College 5-4 on penalties to win the Ben Francis Knockout crown. The teams had earlier battled to 1-1 regulation and extra-time stalemate.

"I am elated with this win because a great deal of work went into our preparation," said Frome's coach, Boysie Nicholson. "I never expected the game to go into penalty kicks, but the Clarendon College team played extremely well and in the end it turned out to be a lot tougher than we expected."

In what was a keenly-contested game, Clarendon enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and it was no surprise when they took a first-half lead through Gregory Lewis. However, Frome fought back brilliantly in the second half and sent the game into extra-time when Sidane McCreath scored the equaliser.

penalty shoot-out

With extra-time play not yielding any goals, the game progressed to the penalty shoot-out. While Frome, who shot first, converted all five kicks, Clarendon College missed once through Akeem Annakie, to end the contest on the losing side.

The game started with Clarendon College missing a glorious chance in the third minute when Nefta Stewart fired wide from close range. Three minutes later, Frome came close when Rohan Watson got a clear shot on goal and fired wide.

After missing an easy chance from Damali Samuels in the 21st minute, Clarendon College took the lead five minutes later. Samuels broke free on the right flank and crossed perfectly to Lewis, who side-footed into the roof of the net.

Took Control

In the second half, Frome gradually took control of the game and, after missing an easy opportunity in the 51st minute when Keswick Samuels fired wide from close range, they found the equaliser five minutes later. McCreath on a break down the right flank worked his way into a shooting position and fired home, making the score 1-1.

With time running out in regulation play, both teams got good chances to take the lead but the chances were wasted. Stewart got back-to-back chances for Clarendon in the 79th and 81t minutes. But goalkeeper Shamar Mullings was equal to the task.

On the stroke of full-time, McCreath wasted a great chance to give Frome victory when he dribbled to the edge of the Clarendon College penalty area but, with the goalkeeper at his mercy, he booted wide.