Waterhouse defender Desmond Breakenridge (left) and Boys' Town striker George Vernal smash together in an attempt to win a header in action from the Red Stripe Champions Cup at the Collie Smith sports ground yesterday. The game ended in a 1-1 draw but Boys' Town advanced to the semi-finals 2-1 on aggregate. -Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

BOYS' TOWN and August Town booked their spots in the final four of the Red Stripe Champions Cup after recording aggregate wins over Waterhouse and Village United as the competition's quarter-final action wrapped up yesterday.

The Red Brigade scuffed their way to a 1-1 draw with Waterhouse to advance 2-1 on aggregate at the Collie Smith Drive while already way ahead with a four-goal advantage. August Town played to a 2-2 stalemate with Village at the Elleston Wakeland Centre to advance 6-2 on aggregate.

A bustling Denzil Watson netted the all-important goal in front of an anxious Boys' Town crowd in the 77th minute.

Excellent effort

Before the strike, the forward had seen a 30th-minute diving header ricochet off the crossbar. Another excellent effort forced Waterhouse custodian Richard McCallum to go full stretch to keep the ball out of the net after Watson had cut inside his defender for a 40th-minute blast.

The crafty front man would however, not be denied a third time and, after sprinting on to a George Vernal through ball, had his initial shot blocked by defender Oneil Thomas but followed up to fire the ball into the back of an empty net. McCallum was beaten after coming off the line in an attempt to foil the quick Boys' Town counter-attacking move.

Waterhouse gave themselves a glimmer of hope in injury time as Norado Brown struck. An awkward collision between 'keeper Philmore Crumbie and defender Damion Benjamin gave Brown the opportunity to charge in and head home.

"We didn't play well. We were a goal behind and our plan had been to go all out for the early goal but we never did that," said Waterhouse coach Barrington Gaynor.

"We started the second half well but then we conceded the goal and ended up with two goals to chase - it was left until too late," he said.

Waterhouse had put themselves in a tough spot by losing 1-0 at home to Boys' Town in the first leg of the tie.

In Trelawny, speedy Kristopher Stone gave Village the early lead with a goal in the sixth minute. Daniel Shaw brought August Town level in the 13th before Kaydian Lecky put Village back in front in the 31st. However, Stone would net again just before the final whistle to at least restore some pride to the Village team.

Boys' Town 1

Denzil Watson - 77th

Waterhouse 1

Norado Brown - 90+

(Boys' Town advance 2-1 on aggregate)

Village 2

Kristopher Stone - 6th, 89th

August Town 2

Daniel Shaw - 13th

Kaydian Lecky - 31st

(August Town advance 6-2 on aggregate)