Friday, December 14, 2007

      Assistant coach, Delroy Seixas, right foreground, and the jubilant Excelsior team members celebrate with the Peter Desnoes Trophy after defeating Kingston College 3-1 in the ISSA/Malta Corporate Area Under-16 final at Winchester Park yesterday. Excelsior won 3-1. (Photo: Byran Cummings)

In a masterful display, Excelsior's boys under-16 football team returned to Antrim, championship trophy in tow, after completely undressing rivals KC in the finals of ISSA/Malta Corporate Area Under-16 final at Winchester Park  on Thursday December 13.

It was unlucky 13 for KC as Juvanne Benjamin scored twice and Damani Stewart once, as the Lebert Halliman-coached team came from behind to beat their opponents, 3-1. Renaldo Graham scored for KC.

In the feature game of a double header, Excelsior had the better chances in the first-half, but it was their opponents who went ahead after 40 minutes when Jenkins hit an unstoppable shot past Jevaughn Waite from a set play on the edge of the area.

Excelsior continued their dominace into the second half, but wasted a few chances to level the score. But they did get the equaliser on the hour mark when Benjamin raced onto a ball over the KC defence and stabbed past Renardo Vassell in goal.

Twelve minutes later, the striker put his team in front, eluding his marker to head home from a cross at the back post.

In the 79th minute, KC's Jamie Hyde was shown the red card for striking an opposing player, although it was his team-mate Rashane Garcia who had actually committed the offence.

Then, with eight minutes remaining, substitute Stewart cut inside a defender from the left and hit a low shot into the near post past Vassell to put the game beyond doubt.

"We were all over KC in the first-half, but we missed a number of chances... but what we teach these guys is resilience, commitment and vitality, and they showed that here today," said Assistant coach Delroy Seixas.

Courtesy of the Jamaica Observer