August Town, Cavalier march into Bell KO final

UNDERDOGS, Cavalier Soccer Club and August Town upset the more fancied opponents, Tivoli Gardens and Boys' Town, respectively to book their places in the final of the Claro/KSAFA Jackie Bell Knockout football competition, following yesterday's semi-finals at Harbour View mini-stadium.

Super League side Cavalier continued their giant-killing run with a come from behind

win over outgoing champions, Tivoli.

Donovan Alvaranga netted the equaliser to Cavalier after 79 minutes and veteran defender David Laylor sealed the win on the stroke of first half extra-time, after Owen Powell opened the scoring for Tivoli in the 62nd minute.

Akeem Thenstead scored the game's only goal as August Town got the better of

Boys' Town.

Cavalier coach Lamar Morgan praised his team performance.

"We stood up well.. we didn't have any doubts because we know the quality of our team and we are thankful of the win," he said.

In a lacklustre first half, both teams failed to produce any real attacking threat, apart from Horace Sharpe's effort from 20 yards that just missed the upright.

However, in the second-half, Kasai Hinds and Roland Dean came close for Tivoli, before Powell netted from point-blank range after Everdean Scarlett could only parry Errol Stevens' ferocious drive.

But Cavalier lifted their game and pulled a goal back 11 minutes from time, when Fabian Swaby latched on to a pass down the right and whipped in a powerful cross, which was chested into the goal by Alvaranga.

Cavalier pushed Tivoli on the defensive and could have scored the winner before the

final whistle.

However, after soaking up most of the pressure in extra-time, Locksley Thompson picked up a ball in midfield and left three Tivoli defenders for dead before passing the ball to the right, from where O'Neal Morrison delivered a precise cross for Laylor to head past substitute goalkeeper, Leon Gordon.

Cavalier then defended stoutly to protect their lead in the second half of extra-time to come out victorious.

In the curtain-raiser, both teams wasted several good scoring opportunities.

Thenstead, Rohan McDonald and Aphas Bernard all came close for August Town, while Boys' Town's best chance was a vicious free kick from George Vernal which Devon Haughton had to go full stretch to keep out of goal.

The Andrew Price-coached team came out where they left off in the second-half and Michael Campbell and Kevin Henzil should have scored early in the half.

August Town, who were on the defensive for the better part of the half, were presented with a gift just past the hour mark when Shaun McKoy allowed the ball to run through his legs.

Leaving Thenstead with goalkeeper Philmore Crumbie at his mercy, the striker calmly dispatched past the goaltender, for the game's only goal.

August Town's coach Paul Young said that it was a gritty performance from his team.

"It was a good workmanlike performance.. and I thought the players worked hard and we deserve this victory," he said.

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments