WHITE Horses needed a magnificent strike from Robert Stephens to defeat defending champions Seaforth 1-0 in the 2024 Serge/St Thomas Major League football end-of-round final.

Stephens scored the winner in the 105th minute. White Horses, who had missed out on the St Thomas Knockout Trophy earlier this year when they lost to Tier 2 campaigner Baptiste Alliance, were not going to let this opportunity pass.

Seaforth were the favourites heading into the game, having defeated White Horses 1-2 two weeks prior.

The game began slowly, with Seaforth directing the pace and gradually increasing the momentum.

The defending champions had multiple opportunities to seize the lead but were foiled by poor shooting. It was characteristic of a team that competed relatively well in the Tier Two play-off earlier this year but was unable to advance owing to wastefulness in front of goal.

Both teams had great opportunities to break the deadlock as the game approached half-time, but neither took them. Seaforth maintained their dominance after the break but it was clear that White Horses were gaining momentum as the game progressed.

Coach Landsdale Parry expressed disappointment after losing the game, especially given Seaforth have won every Major League title since Serge Major League’s inception four seasons ago.

At the end of the first round of the competition Seaforth sit on top of the table with 19 points, followed by Whites Horses on 16 points, York United on 11 points, and Danver’s Pen on nine points.

Golden Grove United are fifth on eight points while Bath comes next in sixth place with seven points, with Elite SDC seventh on four points. At the base of the table are Port Morant All Stars, who are also on four points but with an inferior goal difference.

Kenroy Roberts of White Horses is the leading goalscorer of the competiton, netting six goals, while Antoney Sheperd of Danver’s Pen is next with four.

The return games in the second round of the competition are to commence on Wednesday, April 24 at York Oval, with Elite SDC set to face Bath at 5:00 pm and Danver’s Pen to take on Seaforth at 7:00 pm.