NORVAL Forrester’s 59th-minute strike was enough to decide the outcome of the inaugural InsportS All-Island Community Football League, as Claremont of Hanover defeated Caribbean Strikers of Kingston 1-0 at the National Stadium yesterday.

In a game of two halves, it was the Hanoverians who took their chance after having the better of play in the second half and walked away with the half-a-million dollars in prize money.

“It means a lot to win this because we came too far to lose, but from day one we knew it would be ours,” said winning coach Leroy Spence.

The Spanish Town Road-based Caribbean Strikers started brightly and had a couple of good openings in the early minutes of the game.

But it was Claremont who had the first real threat at goal when Forrester crashed Everton Palmer’s cross against the crossbar.

Then a minute later, Striker’s goalkeeper Horace Fairclough spilled a cross, but Forrester failed to take advantage.

But Strikers came back into their own and had great chances through Palmer, captain Patrick Hall and Dwayne Gordon. The best chance fell to Gordon, but he missed a ‘sitter’ as he was unable to convert from close range.

After the break, Claremont came out looking the better team and it was no surprise when they went ahead. After being taken down outside the box, Palmer delivered a high ball for Forrester, who eluded the Strikers’ defence before slipping the ball past Fairclough.

Hall came close to an equaliser for Strikers soon after, but his free kick crashed against the crossbar before being cleared. But as Claremont dominated possession, Strikers struggled to keep up.

Forrester then wasted two good opportunities, while Vassan Willams had a good attempt from his half of the field after Strikers goalkeeper Fairclough had ventured out in search an equaliser.

Strikers coach Raymond Tulloch said indiscipline was his team’s downfall.

“We underestimated our opponents and the discipline broke down and they lost the game from there,” he said.