Michael McLean, Freelance Writer

BARBARY HALL Police Youth Club showed their resiliency to rally twice with nine men and beat Steppaz 3-2 in the St Elizabeth Co-op Credit Union Division One end-of-first-round final at the Black River Sports Complex last Thursday.

By virtue of their win, the Donald Green-coached Zone A team, which completed the first round with 32 points received $10,000, while the runners-up, who finished with 28 points, will get $5,000.

Very nervous first half

"It was a very nervous first half for us, but the players applied themselves and overall it was gutsy performance," Green said.

Brian Randal, coach of Steppaz, was quite humble despite the loss.

"I must give credit to the Barbary Hall team for winning the game. We just have to get ourselves back together to reach the final," he said.

Steppaz' ace striker, Dowan Reid, got a brace after opening the scoring in the eighth minute before scoring again at the 59th. Liam Blaine (40th), Messado Simms (67th) and Jermaine Williams netted the goals for Barbary Hall.

Fairly handled

In the final, which was fairly handled by young referee Andre Farquharson, who issued six yellow cards, Demar Simms (45th) and Kevin Spence (72nd) were given marching orders, but the setback with nine men seemed to energised the Southside team.

Interim president of the St Elizabeth Football Association, Patrick Malcolm, was quite satisfied.

"The final was keenly contested and a final we would consider as the sponsors and spectators' dream. The officiating was good, the crowd support was OK and the match was incident free," he noted.