By Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer 
A gleeful Ricardo Ximines (9), the man whose goal gave Excelsior a 1-0 win over Bridgeport in the Manning Cup final at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium, is surrounded by his teammates as he lifts the Manning Cup trophy. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
THE GREEN and Gold flames of Excelsior overpowered Bridgeport's Red and Blue fire to come away Manning Cup champions after yesterday's grand finale at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium.
The Eastern St. Andrew side claimed their sixth title after stoutly defending Ricardo Ximines' 16th minute solo goal to which Bridgeport could not respond.
The wily national Under-17 striker won an aerial ball played out of defence and headed goalwards with Garfield Sutherland chasing relentlessly. However, the failure of the defender to attempt a tackle made life easier for Ximines and with the partially committed 'keeper at his mercy, Ximines fired into the left-hand corner of Kemar Mussington's net and, in so doing, sent a huge Excelsior crowd into party mode.
XIMINES' SCORE
Ximines goal not only decided the Manning Cup but it also brought to an end a 10-year drought for Excelsior who last won the Manning Cup in 1993. Likewise, Ximines helped his coach, Lebert Halliman, to a more colourful resume by handing him his second Manning Cup. His first was with St. Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) over Excelsior in 1987.
Sixteen years later he helped Excelsior clip Bridgeport for Corporate area schoolboy crown.
Although they found themselves trailing, the sea of red and blue which characterised Bridgeport's fan base, stormed down on Excelsior's goal in search of the equaliser.
However, coupled with poor finishing by the St. Catherine team and excellent goalkeeping by Excelsior's 15-year-old custodian Damion Reid, the 2001 champions were kept at bay.
In the 24th minute, Reid was quick off his line to deny Mark Newsome after he was sent clear by Dean Thompson. Three minutes later, the goalie, who is by no means the tallest man between the posts, was able to take some of the pace off Newsomes' header which he tried to get over the advancing keeper's head. So much momentum was taken off the ball that Sheldon Gordon was able to get around and clear off the line.
While Newsome might be angry with himself for not bagging at least one of his chances, Andrew Dryden will dream day and night about the empty goal that he missed from point-blank range. Two minutes away from the half he was given a early Christmas present by Thompson who capitalised on the failure of the Excelsior defence to clear the ball and provided Dryden with a free hit. However, with the keeper out of position and just the goal-line to get the ball over, he hit wide.
As the game drew closer to the final whistle, Bridgeport's woes continued and Reid was hard to beat and reality stared them in the eyes like a sore tumb on a hand. Although Bridgeport had everyone in attack with the exception of keeper Mussington, Reid was not penetrated as the Bridgeport strikers could not find the goal for which they went in search of.
With a minute left in the game, matters got worse for Bridgeport as live wire Newsome was sent off for diving in the penalty box, this after being yellow carded earlier. The Bridgeport supporters hurled bottles and other missiles on to the field forcing referee Courtney Campbell to stop the game for four minutes.
The unruly supporters then left the complex after they realised Bridgeport had to wait until at least next year to lift their second title.
Anthony Patrick, coach of Bridgeport, said after the match: "Yes, I am disappointed ... we got four penalties and the referee did not give us one.
"Definitely they did not want the Cup to go back to St. Catherine so they came here today and just took it away from us".
Meanwhile, Excelsior's little hero Reid was thrilled.
"It feels great, just great. It is great being at Excelsior. I have won Pepsi with Excelsior and now to be a part of this Manning Cup victory it's just great," Reid said.
DUNOON WIN
For Halliman, the feeling was much the same as his young 'keeper.
"It feels good. When you know it takes 15 years and nine months to win an Under-19 title it is surely is a wonderful feeling," Halliman said.
In the third place play-off, last year's winners, Norman Manley, had to settle for fourth place as Dunoon came away 5-4 winners in penalties.
