BY ADRIAN FRATER, Staff Reporter
Clarendon College's Christopher Mason (right) is being challenged by Godfrey Stewart's Dwayne Williams during yesterday's daCosta Cup semi-final between the two schools at Jarrett Park. Godfrey Stewart won the game 4-3 on penalties. Both teams were locked at 1-1 after full and extra times. - ADRIAN FRATER
GODFREY STEWART HIGH qualified for Saturday's daCosta Cup final when they upstaged Clarendon College 4-2 on penalties at Jarrett Park yesterday.
The teams had battled to a 1-1 regulation and extra-time deadlock in their semi-final clash.
"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.
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.
SIZZLING RUN
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.
After thwarting a good Clarendon College attack in the 39th minute when goalkeeper Dennis Taylor blocked Akeen Annake's close-range effort, Godfrey Stewart took the lead in the 41st minute. A superb 40-yard free kick by Crooks sailed past the Clarendon College defence and crashed into the goal, making the half time score 1-0.
Clarendon College found the equaliser in the 58th minute following a superb play orchestrated by the dribbling skills of Reid.
That scoreline held until the dreaded penalty shoot-out 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.
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