St James goalscorer Allan Ottey (right) takes on St George's College's Deshawn Forbes, while Dan Evans (background) looks on during the first-leg Olivier Sheild showdown at the Constant Spring football field yesterday. Ottey netted the winner in St James' 2-1 win. - Peta-Gaye Clachar

Fifteen year-old striker, Allan Ottey, and his strike partner, Nicholi Barrett, were in goalscoring form yesterday, when both netted on either side of half-time to hand St James High a 2-1 win over St George's College in the first game of the all-island Olivier Shield play-off at Constant Spring.

Ottey, the daCosta Cup's leading goalscorer, netted in the 89th minute to hand his team the advantage going into Saturday's second leg at Jarett Park, after Barrett had scored in the 17th minute to erase Kemal Malcolm's 14th-minute strike, which had given St George's the lead.

"One down, one to go," said St James coach, Pastor Hugh Solomon.

"Coming to Kingston we knew that the task would be difficult to beat St George's, but today my guys stuck to the task, pressured them and in the end we were able to get the victory. It's now back to the lion's den where we hope to put in an even better performance," he added.

St George's started the better of the teams with Malcolm and his strike partner, Shamar Shelton, brother of national striker Luton, running rings around the St James defence and creating at least three legitimate scoring chances, the third of which was converted by Malcolm.

Picking up a ball just atop of the area, Malcolm dribbled past one defender and from about the penalty spot, he fired home. He then ventured to the stands where he and his teammates celebrated, dancing and prancing in front of the largely partisan gathering, which sported light blue apparel and flags.

Non-traditional high school

However, joy soon turned to gloom for the North Street standard bearers as three minutes later St James, which was upgraded from a secondary school to a high school in 1999 and are seeking to become the first non-traditional high school to cop the rural area daCosta Cup, Ben Francis Cup Knockout and Olivier Shield titles, came roaring back through the powerfully built Barrett.

From approximately 35 yards out, Barrett blasted a cracker of a free kick, which flew over the head of St George's goalkeeper, Jevaughn Lennon, on its way into the net.

With the first half ending even St George's, who wanted a win to gain some breathing space heading into the second leg, trying to force the issue and St James, knowing that a draw on the road would have been a good a result, laying back and playing a counter-attacking game, which paid dividends a minute from time.

Marked closely throughout the encounter, Ottey was the beneficiary of a well-weighed square from the right and, using his height to good effect, he headed powerfully home, much to the joy of his team's flag-waving and banner-sporting supporters.

"After giving up the goal, we wanted to consolidate and get back into the game, and that we did. We really, really wanted to win, so we decided to keep up the pressure and in the end we pulled it off," Solomon said.

Meanwhile, Neville Bell, coach of St George's, said he thought his team played well but failed to capitalise on its chances.

"I really, really thought we played well, and had we put away our chances it would've been a different scoreline," Bell said. "We just have to regroup and come again and try to take it in MoBay."