By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHE GLEANER won the 2004 KSAFA Division One Business House football competition when they defeated the previously unbeaten Carib Cement 2-1 in the final at Cable & Wireless Sports Club, Chalmers Avenue, yesterday.
In a match characterised by rough play and a 10-minute stoppage towards the end of the first half, The Gleaner, through a second-minute goal from midfielder Bernard Blackwood and another in the 64th minute from Constant Spring Premier League striker Fabian Nethersole, handed the knockout champions their first and only defeat of the season.
The Gleaner, winners of the Division One title in 2001 and the Division Two competition last year, maintained their enviable record of never having lost a Business House football final on four occasions in the past six years.
The Gleaner were early on the attack with Blackwood, Nethersole, Fitzroy Pickett and the speedy winger Andrew Gill finding their rhythm, forcing a left-side corner in the second minute.
Before Carib Cement knew what hit them, they were one goal down.
Gill's short corner was tapped to Ricardo Burke who immediately relayed back the ball to him. His follow up cross found Blackwood inside the 18-yard box and he unleashed a perfect header to the far left-hand corner, beating the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Wayne Bennett.
TEMPO CHANGED
The Gleaner pressed for the next 10 minutes but the tempo soon changed as their opponents from Rockfort gradually came into their own with Conrad Hunt, Shawn Freckleton, Rohan Nelson, Ayunga Barrett and Iingi Lowe (Onandi's brother), stringing their passes together. They forced three corners between the 15th and 18th minutes but although looking dangerous inside the 18-yard box, Carib Cement were held at bay by some good positional goalkeeping by Andrew Sewell.
Play deteriorated somewhat from midway in the half with aimless kicking and missed opportunities by both teams. Then, in the 39th minute, with Carib Cement on the attack, referee Winston Delahaye blew his whistle against a Cement player in an offside position interfering with an opposing player.
Hunt, however, netted immediately after the whistle was blown, but the Carib Cement players and spectators perceived it was a legitimate goal and a stone was thrown at assistant refreee Stephen Bell which hit him on the left arm. This resulted in a brief stoppage.
GAINED EQUALISER
Shortly after, in the 43rd minute, Cement gained the equaliser, thanks to a tremendous free kick from Freckleton 25 metres out, the ball beating Sewell all ends up into the far corner.
On the resumption, The Gleaner assumed the attacking role but play soon became physical with the diminutive striker Nethersole suffering most from some rough tackles.
As the game progressed, both teams got their fair share of chances, the most glaring in the 60th minute when The Gleaner's Clint Reid, with only the keeper to beat, missed from close range. However, The Gleaner did not have long to wait for the winner, as Nethersole latched on to a pass from left winger Dwayne Thompson inside the 18-yard box and tapped past Bennett in goal.
Losing coach Paul Laidley conceded: "The Gleaner wanted it more than us on the day. They were beating us to all of the first balls. We had a perfect season up to this match, but it's all about converting goals. Still, I should add that the refereeing left a lot to be desired".
The Gleaner's captain, Paul Smith, said it was a good team effort.
"We lost to them earlier in the season but at that stage we had already qualified and we played with 10 men for most of the match as well. I knew we would not be beaten today... The Gleaner has never lost a Business House final," he declared.
Winning coach Michael 'Jah Mikes' Williams, who guided The Gleaner to the Division Two title last year, attributed the victory to the fact they stuck to the game plan.
"We hit them on the counter attack time and time again and this made the difference. It was a very disciplined approach and I would really like to commend senior players Paul Smith, Rudolph Speid and George Stephenson who held up well in defence."
The Gleaner thus achieved a notable double, having won the Business House Divison One domino competition at Jacisera Park last Friday night, beating Tank-Weld 128-121 in the final.
