Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

Eltham's goalkeeper Kelso Cousins (centre) holds aloft the Walker Cup while celebrating with his teammates after their 1-0 victory over Jamaica College in the final at Stadium East yesterday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Eltham High captured their first schoolboy football title, edging Jamaica College (JC) 1-0 to lift the JN/Pepsi/ISSA Walker Cup at Stadium East playing field yesterday.

The prolific Dwayne Hunter headed home a high cross in the 45th minute, enabling the Spanish Town-based school to create history in their second season of competitive football.

Eltham, formed only five years ago, have also won the Grace Shield senior and junior cricket competitions and added the Walker Cup to the growing list.

Jamaica College, the team with the most wins in Manning Cup history with 19 titles, remained winless in the knockout tournament and in the football doldrums for the last 32 years.

The game started slowly in front of a packed Stadium East facility decorated with the dark blue of JC and maroon and white of Eltham.

But the Spanish Town outfit was the first to settle with the outstanding Jamoy Sibbles, Tremaine Stewart, Hunter and Kemar Crowther creating problems for the boys from Old Hope Road.

It was no surprise when Eltham took the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Hunter rose between two defenders to head home a high looping cross from Darion Douglas from six metres, to silence the JC faithfuls.

Made changes

On the resumption of the second half, JC coach Alfred Henry remained calm and allowed his team to play, but with 20 minutes remaining, he made changes. He brought on Dale McAnuff and put him in the heart of his defence. Captain Jair Gooden was pushed into midfield, while Kenrick Reeves and Jason Forbes also came on in midfield.

Slowly the tide changed as Gooden took control of midfield as JC pressed for the equaliser. The game was now living up to expectations as a Cup Final with end-to-end stuff.

JC threw everything at the tiring Eltham, including the kitchen sink and should have equalised. The hard-working Oshane Brown and Paul Henry both got chances to be heroes in the dying moments.

But their failure brought wild celebrations for Eltham as the referee blew the final whistle.

The Stadium East field became a sea of maroon and white as the supporters charged on to the field to celebrate the historic moment for their school and community.

A brave JC will have to wait another time before they can add a football title to the Manning Cup they won in 1974.