Orgill’s hat-trick hands St Georges KO title
CARDER PARK, Portland — St Georges SC, aided by Dever Orgill’s hat-trick and Leon Irving’s brace, slammed Eagle Strikers 8-2 to lift the Portland Credit Union KO title for the seventh straight year on Wednesday.
Orgill (8th, 23rd, 27th), Leon Irving (39th, 57th), Girvon Brown (61st), Damion Harwood (74th) and Romeo Parkes 93rd) scored for St Georges, while Marshall Roper (48th) and Rodge Afflick (52nd) netted for Eagle Strikers.
Starting under a drizzle, St Georges quickly adjusted and took the lead when Orgill capitalised on a defensive error and beat goalkeeper Dameron Barton.
Orgill got his second goal when Irving’s defence-splitting pass was converted, and he grabbed the treble from a free-kick.
Irving got the first of his brace when Orgill crossed a ball to him and he beat Barton by chesting into the goal for a 4-0 lead at half-time.
Eagle Strikers started where they left off in the first half and pulled one back when goalie Ralston Robinson pulled down Kamar Campbell in the box and Roper obliged.
Shortly thereafter, Afflick’s shot from an acute angle beat Ralston at his near post for a 4-2 scoreline.
St Georges regained their composure and went ahead when Irving got his brace at the end of a Orgill-Davis combination, while Brown got onto the scoresheet when Andre Thomas’ corner was parried by Barton and he netted the rebound.
Orgill was substituted by Harwood and after failing to convert a few chances, the latter eventually fired home from a Dwayne Holmes cross.
The final goal came in time added when substitute Parkes found the target from an Andre Thomas-Harwood combination.
St George’s collected the trophy and $70,000, while Eagle Strikers pocketed $50,000. Both teams will move on to the FLOW all-island competition.
Winning coach Geoffrey Maxwell was pleased but cautious about getting his first silverware of the season.
“I thought we did well; got a little bit slack and I was bit concerned as it was a knock-out competition and anything can turn a game around after they got two goals. We tightened up the defence and got back into the game,” he said.
Losing coach Dean Weston said, “When you have a final you have to prepare for it. The guys saw Christmas as more important, but we will get ready for the FLOW Championship.”
Anthony Morrison, marketing manager for the Portland Credit Union, was pleased with the level of organisation of the competition.
“It was a good competition and we’re happy that so many teams participated and we believe in the development of sport and will continue to support the Portland Football Association and it can only get better,” he said.