Adrian Frater, News Editor

Rusea's goalscorer, Andre Atkinson (left), shows his fighting spirit as he challenges Grange Hill's Jermaine Green in yesterday's Ben Francis Cup KO semi-final at Jarrett Park. Rusea's won 1-0. - Photo by Adrian Frater

WESTERN BUREAU:

RUSEA'S BECAME the first qualifiers for the Ben Francis Cup Knock-out final yesterday when an Andre Atkinson first-half strike gave them a 1-0 win over Grange Hill in their semi-final showdown at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay.

'Applied ourselves'

"We came here expecting a tough game, but we knew that once we applied ourselves well we would win," said Rusea's coach, Anthony 'Follies' Williams. "Our next step is to win the final and then turn our attention back to winning the daCosta Cup as well."

The competition's second semi-final between Garvey Maceo and Dinthill, which was slated for Brancourt in Clarendon, was not played owing to heavy rains and a water-logged field. With that game to be replayed, the final, which was slated for tomorrow, is now in limbo.

In the game at Jarrett Park, which promised to be an epic affair, the teams started off slowly, looking quite tentative going forward.

In fact, the first positive move did not come until the ninth minute when Rusea's created an opening through Horace Maxwell, but he booted wide from close range.

Close call

Rusea's came close again in the 20th minute when they won a free-kick close to the edge of the penalty area. However, Garfield Duncan curled the ball straight at the goalkeeper.

Three minutes later, Grange Hill got a fine break when Ronaldo Jowehill got away before goal, but lost out to the advancing goalkeeper.

With action swinging from end to end, Rusea's took the lead in the 30th minute. Atkinson won possession on the edge of the penalty area with his back turned to the goal.

He juggled the ball around in a shooting position and then fired past the helpless goalkeeper, making the score 1-0.

Finding themselves behind, Grange Hill changed gear and began looking ominous as they went in search of the equaliser.

They should have pulled level in the 43rd minute when Ryan Gayle dribbled through the heart of the Rusea's defence, but fired straight at the goalkeeper.

The second half started with Rusea's wasting a glorious opportunity in the 47th minute. Roydel Moncrieffe worked himself into a good position, but with a clear shot on goal, he fumbled badly and allowed the goalkeeper to leave his line and gather the ball safely.

Wasting an opportunity

Rusea's wasted another opportunity in the 52nd minute when Atkinson dribbled around two defenders and got inside the goal area, but from an acute angle, elected to shoot instead of passing the ball and his shot crashed on to the side-netting.

Midway through the half Grange Hill again went into over-drive and just missed drawing level in the 75th minute. Jowehill took on the Rusea's defence with a brash dribble, but as he was closing in on the goalkeeper a defender dispossessed him with a sharp tackle.

In the 85th minute, Grange Hill again came close through the brilliant Jowehill.

After shaking off two defenders and turning sweetly just outside the penalty area, his cracking shot struck the crossbar and rebounded into play, much to the relief of the Rusea's defenders.