Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
OLD HARBOUR retained the central St. Catherine Under-17 football title with a 2-0 win over Waterloo in the final at Prison Oval on Saturday.
Omar Rowe in the 48th minute and Dwight Wilson (84th) scored the goals for the champion team.
There was one blemish for the winners though, as Leslie Grant was ejected in the 86th minute for a second bookable offence.
The match, which was played before a packed Prison Oval, saw Old Harbour dominating from start to finish and had it not been due to some fine saves from national Under-17 goalkeeper Garrice McPherson, the margin of victory would have been wider.
After failing to score in the first half, Old Harbour slowed the game on the resumption and were rewarded three minutes after the restart when a combination between Rowe, Wilson and Leslie Grant ended with Rowe scoring after dismissing his marker.
STAUNCH DEFENCE
Waterloo continued to defend stoutly and kept their opponents from increasing the margin until the 84th minute, when Wilson beat the offside trap and scored.
Manager of the Waterloo team, Michael Wheeler, said he was pleased at the result even though they lost.
"I feel good as Old Harbour have been playing as a unit for the last three years and we held our own. We will just have to go back to the drawing board and come again next year."
Coach of Old Harbour, Kirk Brown, was thankful for several things.
"The score could have been better if we did not try to play so fast in the first part of the game. However, I am thankful that the team has come out winning two goals to nil and retained the championship to take back to Old Harbour. We are also glad that we have six of the players to start next year."
Norman Blair, general secretary of the St. Catherine Football Association, said the competition was highly competitive and is looking forward to next season.
"The competition was of a high standard and if it is anything to go on, then football in St. Catherine is on the right track," Blair noted.
The competition was sponsored by the St. Catherine Football Association.
