BUFF BAY, Portland — UPTOWN defeated New Scheme (Woodstock) 1-0 to be crowned champions of the West Portland Corner League at Lynch Park, taking the trophy and $100,000 in prize money.

The lone goal was scored by Uptown’s Demar Easington in the 30th minute.

In a keenly contested game the Uptown attack was led by Luke Fagan, Oshane Dobson, and Demar Easington, but found the Ramon Chin defence hard to penetrate. Woodstock countered through Oshane Duriley, Delroy White, and Oshane Kinglock.

Uptown took the lead on the half hour when a Ryan Roeney free kick floated to Easington as he climbed high and headed past a helpless Delroy Richards, as the ball lodged in the goal, making it one goal to nil.

Shortly after they should have gone ahead when Easington was taken down in the penalty area and his resultant kick from the spot was off target going wide. The half ended with no further goal.

Woodstock led the attack in the second half, but was denied by the good goalkeeping skills displayed by Dwayne Willis as he pulled off two good saves from shots made by Hillelide Deans and Akeem Francis.

Sponsor and Member of Parliament for Portland Western Daryl Vaz congratulated the teams and the officials who participated in the competition, as well as the Social Development Commission for organising the communities. The netball competition, he said, will get underway shortly.

The competition was sponsored to the tune of over $1.4 million and was held under the theme ‘Empowering our Youth’. Some 32 clubs from 37 communities in the Portland Western constituency participated in the league.

Woodstock was presented with a secondprize of $50,000, while third place went to Hope Bay who received $30,000 and Downtown got $20,000 for fourth place. Uptown was adjudged the best defensive team, while Woodstock the best attacking team.