Excelsior High School's Juvanne Benjamin (centre) plays the ball with a high boot in a challenge against Eltham High's goalkeeper, Francois Pusey, during the semi-final of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Walker Cup schoolboy football knockout competition, at Constant Spring football field yesterday. Excelsior won 2-1. - Ricardo Makyn

Cup holders Calabar High and Excelsior High will on Friday contest the final of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Walker Cup KO competition after registering 2-0 and 2-1 wins over Jamaica College (JC) and Eltham High respectively in the semi-finals at the Constant Spring Complex yesterday.

Calabar, who turned in a workman-like performance, defeated the 'Dark Blues' on two late second half goals from skipper Aljay Cole, and Richard Lewis, while Excelsior came from a goal down to pip Eltham courtesy of substitutes Neco Bratt and Juvanne Benjamin.

In the feature match, between the boys from Red Hills Road and the boys from Old Hope Road, much was expected given the fact that both teams met in the championship decider last year, and to a large extent it did not disappoint.

The first stanza saw much of the action in JC's half, however, lacking composure in front of goal, Calabar could not capitalise on at least three clear chances, and, as such, the half ended 0-0.

Good goalkeeping

The second period saw an improved performance from JC, who with their large contingent of supporters, were hoping to put right what went wrong in the final last year, which went 2-0 in favour of their opponents.

But as hard as they tried they could not pierce Calabar's net, as with a combination of resolute defending, and good goalkeeping from Chevon Powell, the champions were able to keep them at bay, and in the 74th minute took the lead through Cole.

A diminutive and slippery player, Cole, who was wearing the captain's armband in the absence of their regular skipper, Kabari Palmer, was on the receiving end of a good through-pass from fellow midfielder, Marlon Thompson, and with the goalkeeper advancing and at his mercy, he lobbed the ball over his head, much to the delight of Calabar's drum-beating and flag-waving supporters.

However, before the celebrations could die down, JC got a glorious opportunity to pull level, but a mis-kick from midfielder, Adrian Christian, from three yards out, was agonisingly dragged wide of the upright, much to the anguish of his supporters, and amusement of observers, who could not believe that he had missed from such close range.

Game sealer

Calabar's second, and what proved to be the game sealer, was netted in the 83rd minute when Lewis, running hard, capitalised on another missed clearance by JC sweeper Nico Wright and with only the goalkeeper to beat he made no mistake.

More motivated

"On Saturday (in the quarter-finals) we were a bit flat, however today, playing against JC, we were much more motivated," said Calabar coach, Alrick Clarke. "We played like champions, and come Saturday it is our intention to retain our title," he added.

"We did not play with a lot of cohesiveness, albeit we were without four of our main players either due to injury or suspension. But congrats to Calabar, they played a good game, are deserved winners," said Ian Forbes, manager of JC.

In the opening match, Eltham took the lead in the 14th minute through Dwayne Benjamin. However, with Excelsior displaying a never-say-die attitude, they could not hold on, as Bratt (28th) and Benjamin (54th) were on target, much to the delight of coach Leebert Halliman, and their fans.

"It was a decent performance. The team showed real character and I like that," declared Halliman.

The final will be played on Friday at the Constant Spring Complex beginning at 3:00p.m.

Calabar High players celebrate their second goal against Jamaica College in the semi-final of the urban area ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Walker Cup Knockout competition at Constant Spring Complex yesterday. Calabar, the reigning champions, won 2-0 and will face Excelsior High in the final on Friday. - Ricardo Makyn