Adrian Frater, News Editor

International umpire Steve Bucknor (left) presents the Steve Bucknor Trophy to Franklyn Allen, the captain of Gully Ambassadors, after his team defeated Seaview 3-1 in the Steve Bucknor KO final at Jarrett Park on Sunday. - photo by Adrian Frater

WESTERN BUREAU:

GULLY AMBASSADORS captured the St. James/ Steve Bucknor Knockout football title on Sunday when they scored an emphatic 3-1 win over Seaview FC in the competition's final at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay.

"We started out quite well but after we went up 3-0 our intensity dropped as the players realised that we were well on our way to winning the title," said victorious coach Edwin Allen. "We have a good thing going with these players and that makes this result most pleasing."

By virtue of their win, the gifted Gully Ambassadors aggregation, which is yet to taste defeat since making its entry into St. James domestic football at the Division Two level two seasons ago, pocketed $60,000 and the Steve Bucknor Trophy.

The penalty spot

Prolific striker Asornie Binger, Cornell Pennicott and Vivian Campbell got the goals for Gully Ambassadors, who led 3-0 at the half-time break. Seaview got their consolation goal from the penalty spot courtesy of Mikhail Rickettes on the stroke of full time.

After running rings around Seaview in the opening minutes, Gully Ambassadors took the lead in the 12th minute when Binger danced his way into the goal area, picked his spot and fired past goalkeeper Ryan Samuels.

With Seaview pegged back in defence and under constant pressure, Pennicott made it 2-0 for Gully Ambassadors in the 20th minute when he pounced on a loose ball before the goal and cracked a fierce shot past the helpless goalkeeper.

After blunting a few unsuccessful attacks from Seaview, Gully Ambassadors ended the half in fine style when Campbell, who had a good game, struck in the 38th minute to go into the break with an ominous 3-0 lead.

In the second half, Gully Ambas-sadors continued to have the upper hand but seemed to lack the intensity of the first half as several good scoring opportunities were wasted. Seaview managed to create a few chances of their own but their strikers lacked the required sharpness before the goal.

Down into the dying moments of the game, Seaview finally managed to breach the Gully Ambassadors goal when they were awarded a penalty in the 90th minute; Rickettes made no mistake from the spot, making the final score 3-1.

"We were always confident of winning," said Franklyn Allen, the captain of Gully Ambassadors. "This is good reward for our hard work this season."