Adrian Frater and Howard Walker, Staff Reporters
LEFT: Godfrey Stewart's Dwayne Campbell (second left) breaks away from Clarendon College's Akeen Annakie (left) during yesterday's daCosta Cup semi-final at Jarrett Park. Godfrey Stewart won in a penalty shoot-out. - PHOTO BY ADRIAN FRATER.
RIGHT:
Glenmuir's Eric Vernon (left) gets into a tussle for the ball with Mannings' Kemar Malcolm during their ISSA/Pepsi/JN daCosta Cup semi-final game at Brancourt, Clarendon yesterday. Glenmuir won the game 3-2 to advance to Saturday's final. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Glenmuir and relative newcomers Godfrey Stewart yesterday qualified for Saturday's daCosta Cup final after tense semi-final victories in the premier rural schoolboys' football competition.
Glenmuir accounted for a game Mannings side 3-2 in extra time at Brancourt while Godfrey Stewart qualified for their first daCosta Cup final when they upstaged Clarendon College 4-2 on penalties after the teams had battled to a 1-1 regulation and extra-time deadlock in their semi-final clash at Jarrett Park.
"I just don't know what to say - I am too happy," said Godfrey Stewart coach Carl Palmer moments after Clarendon College had missed their second penalty, which gave his side the victory. "I have always believed in this team and I know that once they play to their true ability they can achieve great things."
BRILLIANT FREEKICK
Godfrey Stewart, in only their second season in the Cup, took the lead late in the first half through a brilliant freekick by Josimar Crooks. However, Clarendon College struck back early in the second half when Andy Beadle fired home from close range to pull them level.
The game started with Godfrey Stewart on the attack and looking quite ominous going forward in numbers. They should have taken the lead in the fifth minute when Ryan Smith found himself unmarked in front of the goal but hesitated and was dispossessed by alert goalkeeper Kevin Bailey.
Clarendon College created their first scoring opportunity in the ninth minute when Richard Reid dismantled the Godfrey Stewart defence with a sizzling run but with the goal there for the taking, he continued dribbling and then lost possession to the advancing goalkeeper.
Midway through the half, it was all Godfrey Stewart with the diminutive Donald Hewitt spraying accurate passes from midfield and exposing the Clarendon College defence. However, missed chances by Crooks and Smith kept them off the score-sheet.
MORE PURPOSEFUL
After thwarting a good Clarendon College attack in the 39th minute when goalkeeper Dennis Taylor blocked Akeen Annake close-range effort, Godfrey Stewart took the lead in the 41st minute. A superb 40 yard free kick by Crooks sailed passed the Clarendon College defence and crashed into the goal, making the halftime score 1-0.
Clarendon College came out looking much more purposeful in the second half as they sought to wrestle the initiative from Godfrey Stewart. They should have pulled level in the 51st minute when Damion Smith pounced on a cross inside the goal area but his side-footed effort cleared the crossbar.
Clarendon College eventually found the equaliser in the 58th minute following a superb play orchestrated by the dribbling skills of Reid. After splitting the Godfrey Stewart with his deft footwork, Reid rolled the ball into the path of Beadle. He made no mistake, driving his fierce shot past the helpless goalkeeper, making the score 1-1.
That scoreline held until the dreaded penalty shootout in which Godfrey Stewart were perfect, scoring the four spot kicks they took (Dwayne Williams, Donald Hewitt, Davion Thorpe and Dwayne Forrester) while Clarendon, who scored their first two kicks (Richard Reid and Dwayne Campbell) subsequently had misses by Adrian Wilson and Christopher Mason.
At Brancourt, Carnell Learmond, for the second consecutive year, turn from villain to hero, leading Glenmuir High to a thrilling win over Mannings.
Learmond, just as he did against Frome in last year's final, missed a penalty before returning to score the winning goal that sent Glenmuir to Saturday's final.
Winning coach Patrick 'Jackie' Walters, clearly a relieved man, said he was "disappointed with the players lack of responsibility".
"The goal that the goalkeeper scored tore our hearts out but we were able to fight back," added Walters.
Meanwhile, Mannings' assistant coach, Aaron Lawrence, praised his team for a courageous effort. "This is the first time that the school has reached so far in many years. "I have to take my hat off to the boys. They played their hearts out for Mannings and Westmoreland," he said.
