Sport

Santos look to punish BT

By AINSLEY WALTERS, Staff Reporter

Fabian Nethersole of Santos (left) in action in last Saturday's opeing leg os the KSAFA Super League final. - Norman Grindley

SANTOS coach Carlton 'Spanner' Dennis yesterday said Boys' Town missed their chance to seize the advantage in last week's first tie of the Super League final and will pay in tomorrow's decisive game at Constant Spring.

"They played their best game against us in a long while but didn't score," Dennis remarked, reflecting on the 0-0 draw, admitting Boys' Town were quicker on the ball.

"I think we had a bad game. It was poor to our standards," the Santos coach pointed out, adding that his top striker, Richard West, and ace midfielder Adrian Reid were tired after returning a day earlier from a whirlwind six-game, two-continent tour with the national Under-20 team.

Tired

"They were tired, you could see it, but they'll be ready this week," warned Dennis, whose team is hunting a third straight Corporate Area title win against Boys' Town.

As they have been doing for the past three years, Santos and Boys' Town have swept all before them to square-off in another Kingston and St. Andrew title decider.

The teams meet at 3:00 p.m. with the 1:00 p.m. curtain-raiser being August Town looking to press home their 1-0 advantage over Shortwood in the Major League second-leg final.

Last season, Santos won the Super League first leg final 1-0 off Kevon Harris' penalty before blanking their rivals 2-0 to advance to the Confederation playoffs 3-0 on aggregate.

Improved team

However, Boys' Town have looked improved this season. Veteran captain Fitzroy Anglin, assisted by Rollin Francis upfront, led the Red Brigade to the Corporate Area Jackie Bell knockout final, beating Premiership teams Waterhouse and Constant Spring before neighbours Tivoli Gardens halted their run 2-1 in the final.

The Premiership semi-finalists took an early lead but had to wait until the 73rd minute to put their heads back in front off Lenny Hyde Jr's strike following Anglin's 50th minute equaliser.

Santos might not have made it as far as the Jackie Bell final but after losing to Arnett Gardens in stoppage time in the quarter-finals, the east Kingston club showed they had the beating of Premiership material by edging Rivoli in the Federation Cup quarter-finals.

Both teams have points to prove. Santos want to maintain their dominance over Boys' Town in addition to clearing the Confederation hurdle to the Premiership. Last season they appeared well on their way, picking up seven points from their first three games before coming to a walk.

Dennis' team choked and earned just one point in the return games, allowing Star Cosmos of Portland and Trelawny's Invaders to steal past them.

Boys' Town are determined to get past their perennial rivals and must be given every chance after last week's showing. Coach Andrew Price bemoaned the chances his team missed and vowed they would get it right in tomorrow's rematch.