Dalton Laing, Gleaner Writer

When the final whistle sounded at the Llandilo field on Sunday to mark the end of extra time in the Westmoreland FA Under-17 football competition, nerves began to jangle on and off the field as all awaited the dreaded penalty kicks, which would decide the winner.

The game between Petersfield and Grange Hill had just ended with both teams scoring a goal apiece.

The proceeded into the shoot-out and after 10 penalty kicks, Petersfield were jubilant, having beaten their rivals 3-2 to ensure themselves of the winner's cash prize of $30,000, double that of Grange Hill who got $15,000. They both received trophies from the main sponsor - World of Sports - but will have to wait a few days for the cash.

According to Devon Maxwell, general secretary of the Westmoreland Football Association (WFA), the competition, which lacked sufficient sponsorship, started with a $300,000 purse from World of Sports, $200,000 of which went directly to the purchasing of jerseys. The remaining $100,000, he says, was used to pay referees' fees.

Winnings

The cash award to the winning teams will come from a $45,000 donated by a team of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) officials while they were on tour in the parish on the opening day of the competition.

The Top Midfielder was Leon Graham of Grange Hill; Top Goalscorer Derron Campbell of Robins River (eight goals); Best Defender Roy Cummings of Grange Hill; Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rashique Brown of Petersfield; and Best Goalkeeper Chevroy Tate, also of Petersfield.

The Top Coach award went to Keeble Patrick of Petersfield, while Easton Vanhorne was named Top Referee.