Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

WESTERN CONFEDERATION champions Granville created a stunning upset in the COK All-island Knockout competition yesterday when they defeated national champions Portmore United 5-4 on penalties at the Sam Sharpe Teachers' College Grounds in Montego Bay.

"This is one of the proudest moments in the history of this club," said Granville's female coach, Tracy Reid. "Not many teams outside of the NPL can boast about beating the national champions."

By virtue of their win, Granville, who are seeking to qualify for the Premier League through the 2007-08 Captain's Bakery Western Super League, now join Waterhouse and Village United in the competition's semi-finals.

In what was a keenly contested game, Portmore took the lead in the 17th minute through Tyrone Sawyers. However, resolute Granville struck through Damion Reid in the 45th minute. No further goals came during regulation and extra-time play.

Penalties

Down to penalties, Portmore missed their second kick from the spot when Eric Vernon had his shot well saved by a Nicolas Steadman, Granville's substitute goalkeeper. For their part, Granville were perfect from the spot, scoring through Reid, Jason Rose, Christopher Curry, Jermaine Anderson and Davion Thelwell.

Before snatching to penalty shoot-out win, they came perilously close to taking a 2-1 lead early in the second half when substitute Odean Snow side-footed a cross from Anderson on to the upright from four yards, which had a number of Granville supporters grabbing their heads in disbelief.

Midway thorugh the second half, Portmore seemed to have grabbed a decisive advantage when Granville's experienced goalkeeper, Loxley Reid, who had earlier distinguished himself with several excellent saves, sustained an injury and had to be replaced by Steadman. Steadman proved himself a capable substitute all the way down to his penalty shoot-out heroics. ÒThe players are hungry to get into big league football and today they showed that they belong there,Ó said Reid. ÒWe are now going back to the drawingboard to get ready for the semi-finals.Ó