JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Bull Bay's player/coach Barrington 'Cobra' Gaynor, a former national full back, kicks the ball before St. George's striker Damion Harwood makes a challenge during their Red Stripe Champions Cup KO game at Bull Pen yesterday. Harwood scored his team's goal in the 1-1 tie, as they advanced 2-1 on aggregate following their 1-0 first-leg win.Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
ST. GEORGE'S FC of Portland, Newland of St. Catherine advanced to the second round of the Red Stripe Champions Cup Knockout yesterday.
St. George's went into the Bull Pen and survived the expected onslaught of Bull Bay, St. Andrew, playing to a 1-1 draw to advance 2-1 on aggregate following their first-leg 1-0 win.
A 65th minute strike by Damion Harwood had given St. George's a comfortable 2-0 advantage, but a 90th minute goal by Kemar Cockburne, plus time, added on meant a tense finish.
Over at Prison Oval, Newland whipped Salt Spring of Montego Bay 3-1, advancing 4-2 on aggregate.
At Bull Pen, Bull Bay had a major setback in overturning the one goal deficit from last week, when Kedrick Bailey was red carded in the 27th minute for verbally abusing referee Delroy Williams.
But the 10-man green and gold clad home team stepped up their game and pressured St. George's for long periods, but could not find that important goal to level the tie.
Against the run of play St. George's took the lead in the 65th minute after the Fagan brothers (Marvin and Luke) combined well to set up an easy header for the unmarked Harwood lurking at the back post.
Immediately Bull Bay got a glorious chance to level the score, but Asa McIntosh missed from close range. Then substitute Jermaine Edwards miraculously headed over the bar from a Billett free-kick. With time running out Cockburne equalised to raise the hopes of the home fans for one last effort, but St. Georges held on fairly comfortable in the end.
ATTACK NOT DEFEND
Barrington Hill, manager of St. George's, said: "We planned to come here and attack and not to defend the 1-0. It was a hard day's work. St. George's came out victorious and I just have to praise the guys."
Barrington Gaynor, player/coach of Bull Bay, said: "I thought we could have got the job done at home but it just didn't work out. We got a red card early in the first half and it put a lot of pressure on us."
The championship continues today with Brazil hosting Wadadah at Drax Hall, Straths entertaining Boys' Town at Frome and Invaders tackling Holland at Elliston Wakeland Centre. All matches begin at 3:00 p.m.
