Photo by Adrian Frater
Calabar's Keniel Hyde (right) takes possession ahead of Godfrey Stewart's Dwayne Campbell during yesterday's Olivier Shield game at Jarrett Park. Calabar won 2-1.Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
MANNING CUP champions Calabar will take a one-goal advantage into the second leg of the 2005 Olivier Shield play-off on Wednesday following their 2-1 win over daCosta Cup champions Godfrey Stewart in yesterday's first leg at Jarrett Park.
Ramone Palmer and substitute Lennox Creary got the goals for Calabar, while skipper Dwayne Williams, who converted from the penalty spot, got Godfrey Stewart's lone goal. All three goals were score in the second half.
"Except for the last five minutes when we allowed Godfrey Stewart back into the game, I thought we played extremely well," said winning coach David Hunt, who is seeking to give Calabar their first lien on the coveted shield.
"Having seen Godfrey Stewart, I am confident that we will also get the better of them in the second leg," Hunt said.
Despite his team's loss - only their second defeat of the entire season, the Godfrey Stewart camp, though disappointed, was nonetheless optimistic that all was not loss. In fact, coach Carl Palmer thinks his team is good enough to rebound and win the rematch.
"I thought we played a little bit flat today and we were definitely not coordinating as well as we should," said Palmer. "We will just have to go back to the drawing board and regroup for the second leg game in Kingston. I am confident that we will do better."
The game started with Calabar having the early advantage and looking quite composed in attack. They should have taken the lead in the 17th minute when Conroy Cunningham pounced on a cross before the goal, but his header went wide of the target.
another chance squandered
Calabar squandered yet another chance in the 24th minute when Akeem Barnett found himself with space before the goal. However, with the goalkeeper at his mercy, he booted tamely at him, much to the disappointment of his teammates.
With time running out in the half, Godfrey Stewart came to life in the 39th minute when Evan Taylor cracked a powerful long-range shot which flew inches wide of the upper right-hand corner of the goal with goalkeeper Oniel Wilson struggling to get back into position. The half ended 0-0.
The second half started with Godfrey Stewart looking much more purposeful, stringing together a series of neat attacks and looking to threaten the Calabar goal. They got good back-to-back chances in the 52nd and 56th minutes, but wasted both opportunities. Firstly, Donald Hewitt side-footed over the crossbar from six yards and secondly, Taylor pounced on a cross before the goal but failed to get his header on target.
With Calabar regaining control and taking charge, they took the lead in the 56th minute with a superb strike. Palmer latched on to a neat pass before the goal, dribbled between two defenders and then calmly booted out of the reach of the advancing goalkeeper, Dennis Taylor, making the score 1-0.
With Godfrey Stewart pushed back into their half and looking rather tame, Calabar doubled their lead in the 71st minute when substitute Cleyon Brown dropped a neat pass at the feet of Creary, who easily fired past the helpless goalkeeper, making the score 2-0.
Down into the dying moments of the game, Godfrey Stewart threw everything in attack. They were rewarded in the 87th minute when the bustling Josimar Crooks was fouled in front of the goal and the referee ruled penalty. Skipper Williams made no mistake from the spot, making the final score 2-1.
