Adrian Frater, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
DUHANEY Park, with a one-goal lead, will be aiming to hang on to or improve on that slim advantage this afternoon when they play away to mid-season champions Village United in their decisive second-leg final in the National A League in Falmouth.
However, based on their impressive home record this season, which has seen them going undefeated in 11 games, Village United must be quite confident of avenging their first leg 2-1 loss in Kingston.
"We were quite disappointed with the first-leg loss in Kingston because we really wanted to win that game," said former national striker Paul 'Tegat' Davis, who serves Village United in the dual capacity of player and coach.
"With home advantage now in our favour, we fully expect to turn the tables on Duhaney Park," he said.
For their part, the Duhaney Park team, which held Village United to a 0-0 draw on their last visit to the Elletson Wakeland Youth Centre, should be reasonably confident of at least hanging on for a draw. In their 11 games on the road this season, they have managed to secure three wins and three draws.
"Village United are a good team and playing at home, they must think they have a good chance of winning," said Bradley Stewart, the coach of the Duhaney Park team. "However, we have an advantage in terms of the goals we have already scored so we think we are in a good position going into the game."
While Village United's initial objective might have been to make the final and earn qualification for next season's National Premier League, based on the euphoria now sweeping Falmouth as a consequence of the optimism of their supporters, the team should now be focussed on winning the title.
"We tasted victory in the mid-season final and the fans clearly like the winning feeling," said Darland Clarke, a member of Village United's coaching staff. "Now that we are in the finals, I am sure the fans want us to win the A League title to go with the mid-season title."
In their bid for victory, Village United will be hoping National Under-20 striker Teofore Bennett, his strike partner Fabian Dawkins, the wily Davis and skipper Shane Crawford will combine to create problem for the Duhaney Park defence. Defensively, top defender Mark Williams and goalkeeper Alrick Henry are expected to marshall the back-line. However, the Duhaney Park team, which according to coach Stewart does not know how to defend, is expected to be in its usually attacking mood. In fact, if their recent form is anything to go by, it will definitely take some doing for them to relinquish their slim one-goal advantage.
In their bid to frustate and upstage the Village United team, Duhaney Park will be banking on the likes of the prolific Horace Wilson, who scored twice in the first-leg game. He is expected to get good support from Omar Cummings, Damion Boxhill, Asa McIntosh and goalkeeper Rohan Duncan.
