Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
NEGRIL CROWNED themselves the 2006 Captain's Bakery Western Super League champions yesterday when a first-half strike by Howard Phillips gave them a 1-0 victory over Montpelier in the competition's second-leg final at the Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland.
By virtue of yesterday's win, the Negril team, which has now qualified for the 2006-07 Wray & Nephew National Premier League (NPL) elimination tournament, won the two-way tie 2-0 on aggregate.
"We came here today knowing that all we needed to do was to avoid defeat but the players were determined to win and take the title in fine style," said Negril's coach, Jerome Waite. "I though we gave a disciplined performance today and all credit should go to the players."
In what was a fiercely contested game, Montpelier started all out in attack, forcing back the Negril defence with dazzling speed. They just missed scoring in the second minute when skipper Dwayne Ambursley got behind the Negril defence, but his powerful header was well saved by the goalkeeper.
Negril launched their first positive attack in the 13th minute when Roderick Christie tested goalkeeper Davin Garwood with a superb long-range lob, which the alert custodian did well to parry wide of the goal.
After surviving another blistering Montpelier attack in the 18th minute when Tristan Gardener rounded the goalkeeper but slotted wide under pressure, Negril took the lead in the 25th. A swirling, long-range free-kick by Andre Jarrett found Phillips unmarked before the goal. His header gave the goalkeeper no chance, making the score 1-0.
Negril went into overdrive following their goal and had Montpelier on the run going into the half-time break. However, despite coming close on a few occasions, the half ended without them being able to add to their one-goal lead.
The second half started with Negril missing a goal almost immediately.
Dwight Gordon pounced on a loose ball before the goal but, with the goalkeeper at his mercy, he hooked his shot wide of the mark.
Midway through the half, Mont-pelier had a great spurt during which they missed two glorious chances. First, in the 60th minute, Ledron Smith sent Gardner clear with a superb pass, but the advancing goalkeeper blocked his shot. Two minutes later Gordon again broke free but drove his shot wide,
With Montpelier seemingly running out of steam, Negril scored what looked a legitimate goal but had it called back by referee Raymond Pyne. A fabulous lob by Phillips eluded the grasp of the goalkeeper and fell to Norman Wollery, who slotted in only to see the referee disallowing his effort.
At the final whistle, the Negril team was all over Montpelier and looking every bit a champion team.
