Shield decision today
published: Thursday | December 11, 2003

LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

THE 2003 SCHOOLBOY football season's moment of truth has arrived.

Manning Cup champs Excelsior High and daCosta Cup kings Frome High sit atop the hill of schoolboy football but they share the throne that is meant for one.

The second leg of the Olivier Shield set for the Harbour View Mini-Stadium this afternoon at 2:45 will crown the rightful heir.

ADVANTAGE

In the first leg at Jarrett Park on Saturday, neither team could get the clear-cut advantage and after 90 minutes had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Excelsior's Kenroy McKay and Frome's Adrian Robinson were the scorers in the first leg and should be looking to further capitalise on their opportunities this afternoon.

"We did not put away our chances on Saturday, the boys were in a hurry when they got in to shooting range," said Frome's coach, Boysie Nicholson. On the things that his team must do in the return leg, Nicholson said: "On Thursday we have to keep our composure and be more patient as the chances will come."

Nicholson, who is grateful just to be able to see his boys play again after narrowly escaping injury-free from a car accident on Sunday, said that he is confident his team will be crowned all-island champions today.

CLOSER ATTENTION

The Excelsior defenders may want to pay closer attention to Frome's Robinson, who has scored his team's past two goals. Along with the equalising goal in the first leg, Robinson scored the penultimate goal in the daCosta Cup final against Titchfield.

Excelsior's National Under-17 representative and one of their more experienced players, Ricardo Ximines, did not have the desired impact he had on the Manning Cup final where he scored the winning goal against Bridgeport.

However, Excelsior have shown to be more than capable, time and again, of winning games even when their midfielder has had a bad game.

Ten players from their 18-man squad have scored this season and the Leebert Halliman-coached Excelsior team that is known for its
discipline and maturity has
a good chance of giving Excelsior their second Olivier Shield title.