Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Wolmer's players celebrate with their goalkeeper Ramone Bailey (partly hidden at centre), who saved Jamaica College's (JC) final penalty to help his team win yesterday's Malta Under-14 semi-final match 4-2 on penalties at Campion College. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
KINGSTON COLLEGE (KC) and Wolmer's marched into the final of the Malta schoolboys Under-14 football competition following contrasting victories at Campion College yesterday.
KC defeated Calabar 3-1 while Wolmer's, following a scoreless regulation and extra-time finish, beat Jamaica College 4-2 on penalties to set up a title clash on Friday at the same venue at 1:30p.m. The game was scoreless.
Rohan Roye led KC's victory with braces in the 16th and 29th minutes. Mario Martin, who scored a 25-yard scorcher, netted KC's opening goal in the seventh minute. Shane Franklin (27th minute) scored for Calabar.
KC's backline was well-controlled by Jamie Hyde, son of former national star and Portmore United coach Lenworth Hyde, while their attackers had several chances on goal.
KC's coach Larry Watson said it was a very good game, though he said his team played better going against the wind.
He is now looking towards Friday's final.
"It will be a good final, the players are evenly matched-up for height and strength," he said.
Calabar's coach Lij Simms said his boys did not live up to expectations.
"My team did not come out and play as expected ... I think KC came out and fought hard and won the game," he explained.
After the first semi-final, there were contrasting emotions with joyous celebrations on one side and tears dominating the other.
Anthony Beckford, Ashani Fairclough, son of Waterhouse football coach Wayne, Lenondro Grant, and Claude Allen scored Wolmer's four penalties.
Jevon Harvey who was brought on just for the penalty kicks, and Shamal Thomas netted Wolmer's goals.
Wayne Lue and Ricardo Dixon, who along with Harvey entered the field at the same time, missed their kicks, after which they went behind the goal and shed tears.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game. In the end it went to penalties and we stood up," Wolmer's coach Vassell Reynolds said.
Looking to the final, he said: "We are the defending champions and we not going to go down without a fight."
JC's coach Mark Scotland said the absence of his leading marksman hurt his team's chances.
"We knew we would have been short in this game because he fell to injury last week, we were always going to struggle in the goalscoring department."
