BARBICAN FC continued their dominance of the Sherwin Williams Colourscape Knockout Tournament on Saturday when they triumphed with a gritty come-from-behind 2-1 win over Los Perfectos in the women’s final at the Drewsland Mini Stadium.

Second-half goals from Shanique Smith (53rd minute) and Latoya DuHaney (60th) provided the Charles Edwards-coached Barbican with their seventh hold on the supreme emblem of women’s knockout football in Jamaica. Rohema Bennett consoled Los Perfectos with a goal in the 48th minute.

By far the more accomplished team of the two in the clash, but still Barbican had to shrug off a listless first half and an early setback from the Duane James-coached Los Perfectos to hold on to their title.

Weakened by the absence of at least four of their regular starters, Barbican looked less than reigning champions against a well -primed Los Perfectos, who attacked their opponents with gusto but did not have the luck to match their industry and the score remained goalless at the break.

Los Perfectos, showing positive signs of that eagerness to score, failed during the opening session. But it was no surprise when they took a well-deserved lead three minutes after the restart.

Bennett got a clear run on goal and rolled the ball past a helpless Abbigale Palmer.

Stung by falling behind from a goal by their unfancied rivals, Barbican hit back four minutes later to tie up the score at 1-1 with Smith climbing above the Los Perfectos defence to head home a well-weighted and directed corner kick from Makeda Davey.

The champions grabbed the lead seven minutes after they had equalised from a good placement from Duhaney. Three minutes earlier, in the 57th minute, the Los Perfectos ‘keeper Shanay Ricketts brought off a great save to keep Tashana Vincent out and restricting Barbican to a single-goal lead.

Smith missed a glorious opportunity to make the score 3-1 in the 78th minute, and two minutes later, Shanika Williams also missed a golden opportunity to put the Manchester visitors on even terms.

“It was a morale-boosting performance,” said Barbican coach Edwards.

“We had quite a few key players this week going down with the CHIKV and don’t ask me how they played the game today. It is a miracle to me. They showed their determination and character to remain champions as they came out and they delivered. I am just overwhelmed by the effort and happy for the victory,” he said.

Los Perfectos coach James said he was proud of his girls despite the loss.

“The performances between the teams in the game that just ended makes me very proud of the progress of women’s football in Jamaica,” James said afterwards.