The All Saints Community Football League (ASCFL) ended in grand style as Old Stagers defied all the odds after losing 5-0 to Police in their first match of the season to an emphatic comeback win over Police 3-2 at Mc Pond last evening.
League stalwarts, El Hombre, secured an easy 3rd place trophy after 5 Star Kitchen opted not to contest for the 3rd spot. El Hombre had beaten 5 Star Kitchen 1-0 by a Karique Knight strike, a rematch was highly anticipated but the kitchen decided against another possible loss to El Hombre.
The feature match took center stage, the All Saints iron band gave the vibes that something spectacular was about to happen with their sweet melody beating in your ears minutes before kickoff, Old Stagers in their bright colored jersey could signal a plane if they all stood together in the dark. Police, also poised on lifting silverware in the All Saints League were focused on the task at hand.
Police signaled their intent early in the match and used an early chance through Stephen Hughes to make it 1-0 in the 5th minute of play. The park went silent, almost in disbelief of what they thought the outcome would be.
The old boys fixed their shin guards, tucked their shirts in their pants, and went running again, trying to equalize and at the same time trying their utmost best to not go 2-0 under. Relief and jubilation came in the 24′ when Conroy “Pengo” Browne slotted home an attempted clearance at the back post to bring the game level.
The lead would be restored in the 40′ when a poor freekick attempt by Old Stagers left them vulnerable to a Police counter-attack. Jean-Pierre Williams evaded the oncoming Simon in the goal and a powerful right-footed shot hung up into the roof of the net, was nothing short of a beauty with the ball millimeters from going for a goal-kick.
Mc Pond was buzzing, both fans were in agreement that the goal was a beauty, and couldn’t take anything away from it. The game continued with both teams still applying pressure with changes being made. When you thought surely, Police were gonna take this one, Juwan Roberts happened, the midfielder who had scored the winning penalty versus El Hombre in the semifinals showed up again to equalize the game at 2-2 in the 57′ of play with a close-range effort.
The fans that were leaving quickly ran towards the celebrations because their beloved Old Stagers stood a chance again to win the ASCFL for the first time, Police were shell-shocked and the experience of the players proved to be worthwhile.
Defender Jamarlie Stevens grabbed the winner in the 61′ with a close-range banger, inviting scores of spectators onto the field to celebrate the goal and the eventuality of lifting the championship trophy.
Old Stagers completed a wonderful season in a league that was missed for years by the footballing fraternity. In the closing ceremony, Hon. Jomale Pringle, the representative for All Saints East & St.Luke and one of the many sponsors commended organizers Lemuel Ralph, Wayne Phillip, and Nick Fenton on bringing back the league and vowed to make the cash prizes a lot more than was offered this year.
Golden Gloves – Meyer Bailey
Best defender – Roneba Cordice
Golden Boot –Joshua Samual
MVP – Micheal Stowe
Natto Hurst MVP awards- Shafeeq Joseph
