- Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
Santos goalie Andrew Sewell punches out a glancing shot that came from the head of Dean Thompson of Boys' Town during the JNBS/Super League final at Constant Spring yesterday. Sewell, who saved two penalties, was the hero in Santos' 4-3 penalty-kick win.
Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
CARLTON 'SPANNER' Dennis has vowed to resign as coach of Santos if they fail to go all the way to the National Premier League next season.
Dennis made the declaration at the Constant Spring playing field yesterday after his team lifted the JNBS/KSAFA Super League title for the second consecutive time.
"This time we won't buck. We are going straight through. If we don't make it this time, I will resign," Dennis said shortly after taking a mouthful of champagne to celebrate his team's victory over Boys' Town.
Having crowned themselves the best Super League team in KSAFA, Santos will now contest the Premier League play-offs alongside the winners of the other three Parish Confederations for a place in the Premier League. Last year, Dennis's side was denied pass to the 'big league' after they finished behind Star Cosmos and Invaders in the playoffs.
However, the battles of the playoffs were far from Dennis' mind yesterday. He has already bid goodbye to Boys' Town.
"Next year ah won't be wid yuh bwoy, a waan guh now. Di only way you gway si mi yuh affi come and yuh caan com," was Dennis' words to Boys' Town who suffered their third straight final defeat to Santos. In 2002, they lost out in the Major League final. When the Super League was added last year, Boys' Town again faced off with Santos and were beaten. Yesterday, they had a grand opportunity to shake the monkey off their backs but wasted it and were beaten 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
'COLOUR RED'
Going into yesterday's second leg tie all square at 0-0, both teams knew they had it all to play for. Boys' Town approached the task as if their lives depended on it. Backed by their close to 200 supporters shouting 'Colour Red', the Andrew Price-coached team immediately went to work, taking up residence in Santos' half for the better part of the first half. However, this territorial advantage failed to produce a goal. The closest they came was in the 17th minute when Rollin Francis fired disappointingly into the legs of goalkeeper Andrew Sewell at his near post.
However, although they were outplayed in the first half, Santos came back well after the break and competed evenly with their opponents who received a major blow when the influential Fitzroy Anglin's mobility was reduced following a 50/50 tackle with Terrence Allen. Prior to picking up this injury, Anglin had rattled Sewell's left-hand post with a shot from the top of the area. That turned out to be the closest any team came to scoring in regulation time.
After playing out an uneventful sudden-death extra-time period, it was down to penalties.
The odds appeared to be somehat against Santos' goalie Sewell who only returned to action from injury last week and was showing some amount of discomfort. However, he silenced his critics by making two crucial saves in leading his team to victory.
While crediting Santos' on their win, Price blamed poor finishing for his teams loss.
"People have to understand that Cup finals have to be treated like Cup finals. You have to be clinical in your finishing. If you are not clinical in your finishing you are going to be let down," a disappointed Price said.
Meanwhile, in the Major League, August Town backed by a brace from Shawn Thomas (42nd and 68th minutes) and a 75th-minute strike from Nicholas Smith thrashed Shortwood 3-1 to win that title 4-1 on aggregate. Christopher Grant scored Shortwood's lone goal.
