Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
BULL BAY will not be heading back to the National Premier League, at least not anytime soon.
In JNBS/KSAFA Super League second leg semi-final action yesterday they succumbed to two lethal strikes from Richard West that killed their ambitions of making it back to the NPL, from which they were demoted last year.
Played as the curtainraiser of the Constant Spring doubleheader, defending champions Santos were behind the eight ball having lost the 2-1 in the first leg played at the Tony Spaulding Complex a fortnight ago.
However, when West capitalised on a defensive mistake made by Bull Bay and headed home past goalkeeper Rauel Wilson in 25th minute, it enabled the Carlton 'Spanner' Dennis-coached side to level the score at 2-2 on aggregate.
Meanwhile, the Bull Bay team seemed determined not to allow themselves to be beaten. Led by striker Milton Griffiths, they found an extra gear, stepped on the accelerator and released everything at Santos. In the 39th minute, the usually goalhungry Griffiths made a fine run at goal but was brough down 25 yards away by Santos' Hanif Freckleton who was yellow carded for his action. However, the former drove the resulting free kick high, muffing Bull Bay's best opportunity of the first half.
When the players went to the break, defender Herbert Allen, who appeared to be better at scaring his opponents with his mouth than his tackles, declared "good first half Santos. Wi nah tek nuh prisoners now".
KEPT AT BAY
As it turned out, although Bull Bay ran at them hard for the second 45 minutes, Santos kept them at bay, forcing the game into sudden death extra time. Eight minutes into the period, West latched on to a back-header from Kirk Hibbert and slapped it to the left of the goalie sending Santos' supporters into a frenzy as they marched into the final.
"We are champions. We don't die easily. That is what true champions are made of," Dennis told The Gleaner before declaring "that the Super League is ours again".
Meanwhile, Dennis' prediction is two games away as his team will have to beat old nemesis and last year's beaten finalists Boys' Town to retain their title.
In their game against Maverley/Hughenden, Boys' Town survived an injury scare and were able to play out a very physical game that ended 0-0, a result that meant they advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
With just 10 minutes gone, Boys' Town were forced to substitute Fitzroy Anglin due to a thigh injury.
Four minutes later, Kirk Edwards was also substituted for a similar injury. However, the Boys' Town team kept up to the high pace game that Maverley/Hughenden offered but neither team was able to find the net in the 90 minutes played. But not before referee Aldin Plummer reduced both teams to 10 men by sending off Maverley's Locksley Thompson and Boys' Town Rudolph Dixon for violent conduct.
