Rashad Crichlow’s match winning goal propelled Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) to top honours, denying first time finalists Barbados Vocational Training Board (BVTB), during the Coca Cola sponsored Barbados Secondary Schools Football Knockout final.
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Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic are champions of the 2016 Coca Cola Barbados Secondary Schools Football Knockout Final after defeating Barbados Vocational Training Board 4-3 at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex. (Pictures by Morissa Lindsay)[/caption]
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Acting President of the Barbados Football Secondary Schools Football Competition (left) presenting Rashad Crichlow with his Most Valuable Player award for the final.[/caption]
Both teams produced impressive performances earlier this season to earn places in the final played this evening at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.
From the begining it was a matchup too close to call. But the lads from the Pine would take away the bragging rights thanks to Most Valuable Player, Rashad Crichlow, with a brace in today’s final.
In fact Crichlow got on the board as early as the sixth minute giving SJPP a 1-0 lead, penetrating the middle given time and space, he shifted BVTB custodian Akeem Scott for the easy finish from the left.
BVTB didn’t take long to reply and found the equalizer in the 15th minute when Trevere Alleyne, camped inside the 18-yard box, made good burying his effort past SJPP goalkeeper Christian Cadogan with superb one touch finishing.
From here on the momentum was in favour of BVTB, captained by Ricknico Marshall a national under-17 player.
The lads in yellow and black then went ahead 2-1 after Kavian Inniss, top goal scorer of the tournament, was brought down illegally inside the penalty box. Marshall stepped up in the 20th minute and buried the penalty to the right of a diving Cadogan.
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Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic defender Raheem Williams (left) does all in his power to clear this ball away from top goal scorer in the knockout competition Kavian Inniss of Barbados Vocational Training Board.[/caption]
Five minutes before the half the BVTB defense looking as though they had SJPP strikers under control were woken up by Demar Linton as he out-paced his marker and struck a lethal right footed finish.
It was definitely game on in the second half as it was clear both teams were hungry for the victory.
BVTB placed themselves once more in the drivers seat when Inniss, took the ball up the right, eliminated SJPP defender and finished with such aplomb it left spectators buzzing in the stands.
The pressure was mounting and SJPP in need of a reply found the answer through Josiah Hind, who took the ball inside the box and was able evade BVTB goalkeeper Scott, eventually finding the back of the net in the 68th.
Many anticipated a penalty shoot out but three minutes before the game ended Crichlow found his second of the match when he dribbled the BVTB defense and slotted the winner home for SJPP 4-3.
In the third place game, also played today at Usain Bolt Sports Complex, St Leonard’s Boy’s trounced St George Secondary School 6-0. Rashad Phillips scored a hatrick in the 10th, 63rd, and 78th.
Meanwhile Niall Reid-Stephens, Darrian Croney and Terrell Hinds all had one goal each.
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Neill Reid- Stephen (on the ball) scored St Leonard’s Boys’ first goal of the third place match has they defeated St George Secondary School.[/caption]
Despite not winning the knockout title St Leonard’s Boys’ won Division One, with BVTB the Division Two.
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