- Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Excelsior's captain, Hue Howell (left), and Frome's captain, Triston Cunningham (right), stand with Pepsi's Events Co-ordinator David Burton as they collected the Olivier Shield at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium yesterday. The teams played to a 1-1 scoreline and ended with a 2-2 aggregate to share the title.
LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
DACOSTA CUP kings Frome Technical and Manning Cup dons Excelsior High are co-champions of the 2003 ISSA/Pepsi all-island Olivier Shield as they played to a 1-1 scoreline at the Harbour View Mini Stadium in their return leg to end 2-2 on aggregate yesterday.
From the start of the game it was clear that it would not be long before Frome scored as they tested Excelsior's defence early. Frome's Shane Anderson scored a glancing header in the 14th minute and gave his team some momentum.
However, Excelsior's Ricardo Ximines quickly countered Frome's build-up and in the 17th minute scored a beautiful equaliser by losing his defender and striking a shot past Triston Summerville.
It rained throughout the entire game but both teams handled the conditions well and created a number of opportunities but had problems finishing.
Frome's coach, Boysie Nicholson, said he was fortunate that Excelsior did not capitalise on their chances.
"Excelsior created several clear-cut opportunities where they should have made us pay but I'm satisfied with the result," he said.
"The rainy conditions made the ground heavy and I think we should have relished the conditions more than the Excelsior team because we are much stronger than them," he said.
MAY NOT RETURN
Meanwhile, Excelsior's coach Lebert Halliman hinted that he may not return next year to defend the Manning Cup title as he said he was enjoying the success he had this year.
"Winning the Manning Cup and sharing the Olivier Shield is more than a Christmas gift," Halliman said.
On the matter of returning to coach Excelsior, he said: "I'll have to think about that; it is very stressful. If there's a team in place that will support me, I might give it a try."
