JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Aston Messam, chairman of junior football, ISSA, presents the JN/ISSA/Malta Colts Under-16 Trophy to Calabar High's captain (Aljay Cole), while other team members look on following the final against St. George's College at Campion College yesterday. Keneil Hyde scored for Calabar to register a 1-0 win.
Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Calabar High and Kingston College (KC) captured the Jamaica National/ISSA/Malta Under-16 and Under-14 titles respectively, with contrasting wins at Campion College yesterday.
Calabar, retained their title with a hard fought 1-0 extra time win over St. George's College (StGC), while KC easily dispatched defending champions Wolmer's 3-1.
Goals by Jamie Hyde - son of former national midfield star Lenworth Hyde - in the third minute, Rohan Rowe in the fifth and Cavel Whittaker in the 67th, led KC to their first Under-14 title for a while.
Kyle Ferguson scored a consolation goal for Wolmer's in 72nd minute, time added on. The Under-14 game has a duration of only 70 minutes.
In the feature encounter, Keneil Hyde's 94th minute strike earned Calabar a 1-0 win in a game dominated by St. George's.
A spirited St. George's through Aaron Spence, Miguel Christie, Rory Powell, Sheamer Shelton (brother of national striker Luton) and the ever dangerous Kemal Malcolm took the fight to Calabar and looked the better team.
But the green and black boys from Red Hills Road, showed what champions are made of and battled away for the entire 80 minutes of normal time.
With four minutes left in extra time and with the dreaded penalty kicks looming, Hyde struck straight from a corner kick in one of their rare attacks.
Hyde's left-footed corner kick sailed over the head of goalkeeper Dean Cronton and into the goal, deflating a spirited St. George's.
Canute Fagan, Calabar's coach, said: "It was a tough game and it was a rough road to this point, but the guys showed a lot of courage, stuck together and retained our title today.
"The quality wasn't there, but it was a final, what you expect? The guys are young and they get butterflies. But thanks to George's for a really good game," said Fagan.
Everald Campbell, coach of STGC could not believe his team had lost as he stood shaking his head from side to side.
"Goals win games and if you get your chances and don't use it up you are going to lose. Hats to Calabar, they dug in and it shows that goals win games," he said laughing while shaking his head in disbelief.
A St. George's player, Rory Powell, apparently broke his ankle while attempting a shot that was charged down by his opponent.
