Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

- Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

The Kingston and St. Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) continued to stake their claim as youth confederation football kingpins, with wins coming for both St. Andrew and Kingston in the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Under-13 and Under-15 finals at the Duhaney Park football field on Sunday.

In Under-13 action, St. Andrew came from a goal behind to stave off the challenge of St. James, eventually winning 4-3 in extra-time. In the Under-15 fixture, Kingston put in a disciplined performance to eventually blow away neighbours St. Andrew 4-0.

After a tense first half, it was a late flurry of goals which saw Kingston eventually being able to break away from their parish rivals, despite having the better of play in the first half and a spate of chances.

Kingston captain Carl Reid eventually did take charge of the situation, curling a fierce right-footed shot high into the left corner of goal from the edge of the area in the 70th minute. Once that effort had gone in the floodgates broke wide open.

Jhuvan Reid added another for Kingston six minutes later, easily slotting past St. Andrew custodian Selvin Howell after picking up the ball just eight yards from goal.

Rushane Rankin kept the goals pouring in when he netted in the 80th minute from a cross by substitute Wayne Lue, and Lue put himself on the scoresheet when he netted an 82nd-minute penalty.

"We were anxious to get that first goal. They were looking to hit us on the counter so we were panicking in front of goal a little, but once we got it that was it," said Kingston's coach, Everald Campbell.

Talent

"We have a lot of talent on this team, most of the guys are on the national Under-15 side. In addition to that we had the core of our team from last year," he added.

"We shut down with about 10 minutes to, we got a crucial injury with one of our defenders and everybody fell apart," was the assessment of St. Andrew's coach, Utah Blade.

"A couple of our key forwards did not show up, so we had to work with what we had and unfortunately it didn't work out," he added.

In an exciting Under-13 fixture, St. James took the early lead when Neico Taylor converted a 25th-minute penalty. Odeanny Black would, however, see St. Andrew level when he netted in the 32nd minute. Kevin Thorpe headed St. James back into the lead in the 34th minute, but Kenaris Ricketts once again brought things level for the urban team in the 39th minute.

Amazingly, another penalty by Taylor would see St. James pull ahead in the 74th, but again St. Andrew drew level this time through Romario Jones in the 76th minute. Omar Holness finally snatched victory for St. Andrew in extra time with his82nd-minute goal from the spot.