By Richard Bryan, Freelance Writer

Garvey Maceo's leading goalscorer and captain Ashton Bennett (right) dances around Rusea's Worrick Pinnock in yesterday's Ben Francis Cup KO final at Jarrett Park. Garvey Maceo won the game 2-0. - Adrian Frater

For many teams which boasted the potential in the early rounds to be daCosta or Ben Francis Cup winners, any meeting with Ruseas's High was one to be feared.

Confidence was often melted each time the referee blew the opening whistle. Worse yet, if the game was played at Frome, Jarrett Park or even St. Elizabeth Technical. Ask teams such as Holmwood Technical, Munro College, STETHS, Dinthill and, until lately, Garvey Maceo.

Rusea's - a thorn in their flesh for years at crucial junctures in the rural football competition, the Vernamfield-based school broke the jinx this year winning first the Ben Francis Cup 2-0 at Jarrett Park, and on Saturday repeated the feat, at St. Elizabeth Technical, to book a place in the more stellar daCosta Cup finals against parish mates Glenmuir, a school they have muscled in the past, but have little to show for their parochial dominance over the years.

Barrier broken

The psychological barrier against Rusea's was broken under the watch of coach Jeffrey Hewitt, who also shed many tears in tough losses to Rusea's as a player, even when it was widely felt that Garvey had the "better team". What has been responsible for this amazing turn-around against the background of even more imposing coaching names of Merrick Morrison, Vassell 'Tutu' Reynolds and Patrick Whittaker who have tried in the past?

According to Hewitt, who played alongside Franklyn Francis, current Premier League referee Kevin Morrison and former national player Ray Graham - Garvey Maceo's most reputed player, in the powerful 1995-96 squads, a lack of discipline were the decisive hindrances.

"When I was playing, there were certain things that were lacking. For example team discipline - we were never able to get that right. I sort of learned from those things and ensured that was not a part of my programme."

While he did not elaborate, it has long been rumoured that the previous culture of representation at that school was one which bred star status in players who did nothing more than turn up for school.

"When you look at this team, we have had strong discipline on and off the field, so it is easier to plan team strategy," remarked the G.C. Foster graduate, who has had little experience playing club football after high school years.

Even Rusea's coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams who has seen many 'Russian' conquests, intimated in his post-match comments that the fear factor had been reversed. Commenting on why his team lost 0-2 for a second time to the same team at venues considered his backyard, he said: "Our only chance was to nullify their number seven, but both times the (assigned) marker was off the field."

The number seven player he speaks of is Ashton Bennett, the competition's leading goalscorer, who scored twice within the first 20 minutes on Saturday but who, even Williams would admit, is yet to command the accolades of past Garvey Maceo teams parading the likes of Merrick Morrison and Ray Graham.