Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Barbican's Samantha Kinglock (left), tries to elude Peta-Gaye Soman of Harbour View, during their Sherwin Williams Colour Scape Knockout final at the Constant Spring play field yesterday. Harbour View won 2-0 to retain their title. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor
Harbour View captured the Sherwin Williams Colour Scape Women's Knockout competition with a hard-fought 2-0 win over perennial rival Barbican at the Constant Spring play field yesterday.
Late strikes by national players Shakira Duncan (84th) and Nicole Bell (90th), propelled Harbour View to their third consecutive title.
Harbour View, boasting eight national players, walked away with the $30,000 winner's prize.
In front of a small gathering on a damp evening, the defending champions Harbour View and the league holders Barbican, nullified each other in a balanced encounter.
But substitute Nardia Edwards' defence-splitting pass from well inside her half allowed Duncan a free run on goal.
The national striker timed her run to perfection to beat the offside trap and finished with aplomb, kicking wide of the hapless Tashana Taylor in goal with six minutes remaining.
Then in the 90th minute, Bell popped up at the far post to drive the final nail into Barbican's coffin.
The diminutive Bell, the former Barbican player who switched allegiance this season, was left unmarked and calmly headed home a well-flighted Kimmia Parker freekick.
Winning coach, Vin Blaine, said his team stuck to the task and that's what made the difference.
Said Blaine: "It was intense as I thought it would have been when you have two good teams not giving up anything, but in the end, we stuck to the task and came out victors".
"I think we played a good disciplined game and the character of the girls came out and we won," added Blaine, who is also the national women's coach.
Meanwhile, Barbican coach Charles Edwards, who was having an animated discussion with his team before being interrupted by The Gleaner, said his team failed to carry through the game plan.
Said Edwards: "I don't think we played to our game plan...our game plan was not to allow Harbour View so much space to play. But somehow I think the girls weren't ready for the game today".
"I don't know if it was because of the finals and they were a bit tight, but I am very disappointed at the end of the game," noted Edwards.
