- PHOTO BY ADRIAN FRATER
Andrew Reid, general manager of Pepsi (right), presents the coveted daCosta Cup to Dwayne Williams (left) the captain of the victorious Godfrey Stewart team yesterday. Godfrey Stewart won the final against Glenmuir 3-0 at Jarrett Park.
Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
WESTMORELAND'S GODFREY Stewart High made a mockery of the pundits' predictions yesterday when they stunned and then embarrassed Glenmuir 3-0 in the final of the 2005 ISSA/Pepsi/Jamaica National daCosta Cup final at Jarrett Park to gain their first hold on the coveted title.
Showing absolutely no respect for the outgoing champions, the Sav-la-Mar team got their goals from skipper Dwayne Williams (two) and Ryan Smith. All three were scored in the second half in which the new champions out-muscled and ultimately outclassed the previously unbeaten Glenmuir, wrecking their hopes of repeating last year's triple championship - Ben Francis KO, daCosta Cup and Olivier Shield - success.
FEELING TOO SWEET
"The feeling is too sweet to control ... I feeling like screaming," said victorious coach Carl Palmer, as he unleashed a giant "yeaaaah" and lifted his champagne-soaked face to the heavens.
"I came here knowing that we would win. The boys promised me they would and I believed them," Palmer said.
Although disappointed in the result, losing coach Jackie Walters, who described his team's performance as easily the worst of the season, was gracious in defeat. According to him, the Godfrey Stewart team played like they really wanted to win and were better on the day.
"We did not play as well as we should but at the same time you cannot take anything away from Godfrey Stewart; they played an excellent game," said Walters. "What I saw today speaks well for the future of local football."
The game, which promised much excitement, started with Glenmuir on the attack and looking quite awesome coming forward primarily through the wily Eric Vernon and Carnell Learmond. However, they found the Godfrey Stewart defence an impenetrable fortress as skipper Williams, who had a brilliant game, defended like a Trojan.
Midway through the half Glenmuir should have taken the lead when a fabulous long-range effort by James Thomas dipped inches over the crossbar with goalkeeper Dennis Taylor backpedalling and looking upwards anxiously.
Two minutes later, Godfrey Stewart wasted a glorious chance when Dwayne Forrester dribbled to the edge of the penalty area but lost possession.
With time running out in the half, Godfrey Stewart gradually began to take control, peppering the Glenmuir defence with attacks from both flanks. They should have scored in the 40th minute when Josimar Crooks broke free out of midfield but his powerful shot went over the crossbar. The half ended 0-0.
The second half started with Glenmuir getting a chance immediately. The wily Vernon skipped neatly between three defenders but as he entered the goal area under pressure, he lost possession to alert goalkeeper Taylor.
CREATING PROBLEMS
With Godfrey Stewart pressing forward and creating problems for the Glenmuir backline, they took the lead in the 55th minute. A firmly-struck corner kick from the right side found the overlapping Williams unmarked inside the goal area.
His powerful header gave goalkeeper Erron Brown no chance, making the score 1-0.
With the sting seemingly knocked out of the Glenmuir team, Godfrey Stewart went further ahead in the 62nd minute with a brilliant strike. On a mission down the right flank, Smith dismissed the challenge of the advancing goalkeeper and, from a difficult angle, fired in a super effort off the right upright, making the score 2-0.
With time running out in the game, Glenmuir began to throw everything into attack with Learmond and Vernon working overtime. However, skipper Williams was like a solid wall in the defence, dispatching everything that came his way with great authority.
On the one occasion that he fouled up in the 86th minute, the usually sure-footed Learmond got inside the goal area but drove his shot straight at the goalkeeper, who was well positioned for the shot.
On the stroke of full time, Godfrey Stewart got a penalty when Davion Thorpe was fouled just outside the goal area and referee Peter Prendergast pointed to the spot.
Skipper Williams made no mistake, booting home joyfully to make the final score 3-0.
