By Ainsley Walters, Staff ReporterPORTMORE'S BRIDGEPORT Comprehensive yesterday raced into their first Manning Cup final, rallying from a goal down to upstage Jonathan Grant 2-1 in their semi-final replay at the Prison Oval.
Defensive midfielder Kemar Grant booted in Bridgeport's historic match-winner in the 76th minute, denying Jonathan Grant the chance to meet neighbours Spanish Town Comprehensive in Saturday's final at the same venue.
Defender Edgerton Lawrence was king of Spanish Town seven minutes after the opening whistle when he curled in a near 40-yard free-kick from the left side, giving Jonathan Grant an early lead.
Lawrence, however, moved from hero to zero 17 minutes later when his back-header to goalie Maurice Evans bounced over the Jonathan Grant 'keeper, giving lurking forward Kemar Peterkin the equaliser.
Jonathan Grant ended the first half taking the fight to Bridgeport through the Wolfe brothers, Kemeel and Rafe, teaming up in attack with Steven Morrisey and Courtney Shakespeare.
However, A 59th-minute double substitution by Bridgeport coach Anthony Patrick, saving star midfielders Damone Johnson and Oniel Thompson for the stretch run, turned the game for the Portmore lads.
Johnson's dribbling skills, running straight at goal from midfield, and tall Thompson's powerful kicking countered the Wolfe brothers at the opposite end of the pitch.
It was Thompson's neat one-time volley pass which started the play for Bridgeport's match-winner. A clearance swung out of Bridgeport's defence was turned mid-air to the left flank by Thompson in midfield, setting up unmarked Nicholas Noyan. The winger gave chase and rolled his cross along the ground for Grant, whose perfect finish set off wild cheers from Bridgeport supporters who made the trip from Portmore to Jonathan Grant's backyard.
"I sat with the players for about two hours and Thompson and Johnson decided to come off the bench," said a jubilant Patrick. "That did the trick for us.
"They (Jonathan Grant) had expected to come out again and mark them early," he added, referring to their 0-0 deadlock which was aborted Saturday due to bad light. "When they came on their main defenders were already pulled out and there was nobody to mark them."
