- Patrick Campbell
Rusea's captain Ricardo Collins lifts one of the two trophies his team received yesterday for winning the Pepsi/Sports Plus daCosta Cup championship over William Knibb at Jarrett Park.
Paul A. Reid, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
RUSEA'S HIGH of Lucea, Hanover clinched their eighth hold on the Pepsi/Sports Plus daCosta Cup football title yesterday after edging first-time finalists William Knibb 1-0 in the final at Jarrett Park.
Kevin Bryan was well placed in the 28th minute to shoot into an open goal after two team-mates had missed from point-blank range. William Knibb's goalkeeper Nish Sterling had managed to parry a header from Keniel Moodie on to the upright but the ball fell fortuitously for Dwayne Jumpp. The forward could only manage a weak shot goalwards but Bryan slammed it home.
This Rusea's win added to their titles won in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992 and 1993.
Yesterday's game was evenly balanced as neither team managed to dominate. Despite this, the game was not of a particularly high standard, a fact that was acknowledged by the winning coach, Anthony 'Follies' Williams.
'WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE'
While saying that "words cannot describe" how he felt, winning his first schoolboy tile after being assistant to Emerson 'Diggy' Henry for more than 10 years, an emotional Williams said the quality of the game left a lot to be desired. He said the second half was the worst of the two periods.
Williams dedicated the win to Henry, who is still recovering from injuries received when he was shot seven times by gunmen earlier this year. He added that he had no idea the game would have been so easy and said Rusea's should have won by a far wider margin but for missed chances.
Williams also said that because he was forced to make two changes because of injuries, he was forced to adjust his game plan.
While he said he expected to lose midfielder Ricardo Collins at some time in the game as he had started with an injury, he said the loss of the goal scorer Bryan was unexpected.
His opposing coach, Paul 'Tegat' Davis, differed from Williams as he said his team was never outplayed but Rusea's but they had scored from their lone chance.
Davis said he was disappointed that his players had missed a number of chances they had created.
The former national striker said they had come out in the second half trying to push the Rusea's team back but his players were too hasty in their decisions and failed to make use of their opportunities.
