THE dust had barely settled on the grand finale of the 2025 ISSA/TIP Friendly Society Schoolgirl Football competition when Excelsior High Assistant Coach Theodore Leon couldn’t help expressing a tinge of disappointment. Despite his team’s 1-0 win over Holmwood Technical to clinch the title, Leon was left wanting more.

“I am a bit disappointed, to be honest. We were hoping to get a bigger scoreline but I have to give Holmwood a lot of praises as they came, they worked hard, they created a lot of chances, and they had pinned us back. But, it wasn’t the scoreline that we had hoped for,” Leon said in a post-match interview.

Captain Destiny Powell’s successful penalty kick in the 49th minute proved decisive at the Stadium East field on Wednesday, securing Excelsior’s ninth-consecutive title.

Leon attributed the win to the senior players’ improved performance in the second half.

“We talked a lot to the senior players. We knew that they could have done a lot better than the first half. We know the quality they have, that we possess as a team, so we really stuck to them and required them to do much better than what they were doing in the first half. They showed up for the second half and so we have to be grateful for that. We got the goal that gave us the trophy,” he explained.

“It is an excellent feeling winning our ninth-consecutive title. Hopefully, we can continue next year, making a 10th,” he beamed.

“A lot of [players] may be moving on this year and so we know that we will have to go back to the drawing board. But, we will keep working. The school on a whole are proud of us and we are thankful for the support,” Leon noted.

The first half was evenly matched, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. Holmwood’s Jamara Jones hit the upright in the fifth minute, and Kiana Ferguson’s follow-up shot crashed off the crossbar. The first half ended with neither team able to capitalise on the opportunities.

The dynamics changed in the second half, as Excelsior found their rhythm.

They took the lead when Powell was fouled inside the box. She stepped up and scored the penalty, sending Excelsior’s supporters into wild celebration.

The goal seemed to deflate Holmwood’s players, who appeared to lose momentum. The match took a further turn when Holmwood’s Jones was shown a straight red card in the 71st minute for pulling the hair of Excelsior’s defender and birthday girl, Dejaunae Lewis. Despite the challenge, Excelsior held on to their 1-0 lead and celebrated their victory at the final whistle.

Sashana Campbell, assistant coach of Holmwood Technical, reflected on the team’s loss.

“I think it was a really good game. I think after the goal scored, I mean, we dropped our heads and gave Excelsior the game,” she said.

Campbell attributed the loss to a lapse in focus and dip in energy in the second half.

“The mood during the half-time talk was good.I just think when the players came out for the second half, I don’t know what happened, they just [felt] tired or something. We told them, like, ‘The first five to 10 minutes into the game and the last five to 10 minutes of the game is going to be crucial.’ They just came out and we lapsed, and it cost us a goal,” Campbell explained.

Garvey Maceo High claimed third place by defeating Merl Grove High 3-1 at the same venue.

Breanna Marr gave Merl Grove an early lead in the 11th minute.

Sajane Anderson opened the scoring for Garvey Maceo in the 38th minute, followed by Jully-Ann Howard’s goal in the 61st minute. Sara Needham buffered Garvey Maceo’s advantage with a goal in added time.

— Ruddy Allen