BY OSHANE TOBIAS

Observer writer

MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Coach Marvin Salmon says it was a strange season for his Manchester Academy team, but he maintains that they were worthy winners of the recently concluded Moorland Development/Pat Anderson Manchester FA Under-17 football competition.

Manchester Academy retained the parish title after clipping Villa United 1-0 in last Sunday’s final at the Kirkvine Sports Club.

Delverone Simpson scored the winning goal in the second half.

“Overall, it was a good performance,” says Salmon. “We were a bit lacklustre in the first half, but in the second half the guys showed that they wanted to win.”

He also concedes that they were “a bit fortunate” to have retained the title, given that they were initially knocked out of the competition at the end of the preliminary phase.

They were, however, given a lifeline when one of the quarter-finalists, Comfort FC, were thrown out for using an ineligible player.

Manchester Academy then took full advantage of the opportunity.

“It was a somewhat difficult season… in the end we were a bit fortunate to get back in the competition and win it,” said Salmon.

Members of the Manchester Academy Under-17 football team are joined by president of the

Manchester Football Association Dalton Wint (second left), legendary sports administrator Pat Anderson (centre) and managing director of Moorland Development Carlton Maxwell (right) in celebrating their triumph in the Moorland Development/Pat Anderson Manchester FA Under-17 competition.

(PHOTO: GREGORY BENNETT)