Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Maverley/Hughenden's Adrian Bennette (left) jostles for possession with Constant Spring's Shawn Hunter in Jackie Bell Knockout quarter-final action between the sides at the Constant Spring Complex yesterday. Constant Spring won the encounter 4-2 on penalties. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
CONSTANT SPRING booked themselves the final spot in the semi-finals of the Jackie Bell Knockout competition following a furious 105 minutes of football against Maverley/Hughenden at the Spring Complex yesterday.
After playing to a 2-2 draw after full and extra time, Spring clinched the quarter-final clash 4-1 in a penalty shootout.
In what proved to be an electrifying encounter, it was no shock that the National Premier League representatives fired themselves into the lead as early as the fourth minute, courtesy of an Adrian Jackson strike.
BROUGHT BACK TEAM
But a gritty Maverley had obviously come to show that they could hang with the big boys and in the second half a fine effort by Tyrone Crossfield brought his team back on level terms.
Crossfield barged in to chest the ball away from centre half Daemion Benjamin and, drifting to the right of goal, fired a scorcher over the head of Constant Spring custodian Kirk Williams.
With neither team able to break the 1-1 result at the end of full time, the game headed into extra-time.
When Jermaine Richards rose high to head the ball into the net from a corner for Constant Spring, all odds were on it being lights out for Maverley.
But two minutes later, substitute Andre McLean struck back for the Super League team. It was, however, a controversial strike as he seemed to handle the ball in an attempt to bring it under control. Nonetheless, his powerful strike from about 18 yards away gave Williams no chance.
"We were the Premier League team and we should have dominated. We were careless after scoring both our goals. But, in the end, our experience won out," said Constant Spring coach Danny Lyn.
Evol Headley, Benjamin, Richards and Emeil Thomas all netted for Constant Spring in the shoot-ut while McLean scored for Maverley/Hughenden.
