Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

ST JAMES High School are the undisputed champions of rural schoolboy football in Jamaica after defeating Spaldings High 2-0 in the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup final at Jarrett Park yesterday to add that title to the Ben Francis KO crown they won earlier in the season.

Despite not being as fluent as in their most recent games, the Pastor Hugh Solomon-coached St James High again benefited from prolific strike twins Nicholi Barrett and Allen Ottey, who came into the final sharing 42 goals, and added one each to their individual tallies - Barrett's 21st and Ottey's 23rd

Elated team

"We came into this game knowing that what was at stake was what we have been working hard for all season and we were not prepared to let it slip away," said Solomon. "This is a happy and proud moment and naturally we are elated."

For the defeated Spaldings team, which lost its first daCosta Cup game of the season, it was a bitter pill because the team controlled the game for long periods, but faulty finishing, especially from the usually reliable Milton Christopher and Jason Henry, let them down.

"We had the game to win today but we did not capitalise on our chances," said a disappointed Alexander Morgan, coach of the Spaldings team. "This is a difficult defeat to accept, knowing what could have happened had we converted our chances."

Created opportunities

In the opening minutes of the game, Spaldings looked the more composed of the two teams and created some good opportunities.

Jovann Powell fired wide from close range in the seventh minute, Henry drove a close-range rebound over the crossbar in the ninth minute and, in the 17th, Christopher pivoted inside the goal area but fired wide.

Midway through the half, St James High began to settle down and should have taken the lead in the 24th minute. A fabulous close-range freekick by Barrett brushed the hands of goalkeeper Lenroy Mundle and flew over the crossbar.

With time running out in the half and St James finding their range, they took the lead with a stroke of good fortune in the 45th minute. A long-range freekick by Barrett fell awkwardly before the goalkeeper, clipped his hands and ended up in the goal, making the half-time score 1-0.

In the second half it was a ding-dong battle with both teams all-out in attack. St James missed a glorious opportunity in the 52nd minute when Ricardo Morris broke free before the goal, but fumbled badly with the goalkeeper at his mercy.

Back-to-back raids

Spaldings launched a series of back-to-back raids started with a glorious opportunity, which was muffed by Christopher, but solid defensive work by skipper McHarthy and John Barrett kept most of the action away from goalkeeper Everett Nunes.

In the 69th minute, Ottey got the easiest of chances to double St James' lead when he got away before goal but mis-kicked.

The ball fell kindly for Barrett but he too miscued.

With a minute to go in the game, Ottey made up for his earlier indiscretion when he won possession just inside the penalty area, dribbled several paces and unleashed a powerful grounder, which crashed into the back of the net.