Adrian Frater, News Editor

Godfrey Stewart's Nicardo Stewart (front) takes control of the ball ahead of a Glenmuir defender in a semi-final match in Saturday's Manning's School Football Carnival, in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland. Godfrey Stewart won the game 2-0. - photo by Adrian Frater

Western Bureau:

DaCosta Cup champions Godfrey Stewart High School, advertised their state of readiness for the 2006 schoolboy football season on Saturday when they won the four-team Manning's School Football Carnival, which was staged in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

By virtue of their win in the one-day competition, which featured host team, Manning's, former daCosta Cup champions, Glenmuir High School and Rusea's High School, the Carl 'Long Life' Palmer-coached Godfrey Stewart took home the Howard Jackson Trophy and bragging rights over the other three teams going into the upcoming season.

"This was an excellent tournament for us because it gave us a chance to assess our state of readiness to defend our title," said coach Palmer, who guided Godfrey Stewart to their first ever daCosta Cup title, last year. "I saw a lot of good football here today but I don't think I saw anything to be unduly worried about at this time."

The tournament, which was played according to a semi-final and final format, saw Godfrey Stewart and Glenmuir clashing in the first game, a repeat of the 2005 daCosta final; while and Manning's and Rusea's met in the other semi-final.

In their opening game, the slick-looking Godfrey Stewart team, behind two goals from Marvin Daley blanked Glenmuir 2-0, while in the second game, the purposeful-looking Rusea's, with goals from Garfield Duncan and Adrian Scott, eased past Manning's 2-1. Craig Foster got Manning's' lone goal.

In an enterprising third place play-off, the Hopeton Gilchrist-coached Mannings, which made the daCosta Cup semi-final for the first time, last year, turned back Glenmuir 2-0 in what was a fine display.

The final turned out to be a major spectacle with Godfrey Stewart looking awesome going forward through skipper Davion Thorpe, and Daley, and Rusea's appearing quite composed in defence with Demarco Jackson and goalkeeper Wayne Sawyers standing tall. The half ended 0-0.

In the second half, Rusea's took the lead when the referee spotted an infringement in the Godfrey Stewart goal area and awarded a penalty. Horace Maxwell made no mistake from the spot, making the score 1-0.

Finding themselves behind, Godfrey Stewart stepped up the tempo of their play and went all out in attack. They drew level mid-way the half when Daley fired home his third goal of the day to make the score 1-1.

With time running out in the game, Godfrey Stewart struck the all-important winner in the 79th minute when the skilful Ricardo Rickettes breached the defence and with goalkeeper Sawyers at his mercy, booted home easily.