Pinpoint shooting from the penalty spot earned Ellerton the Barbados Cup Under-19 football title for the first time yesterday.
The Ellerton boys prevailed 4-2 on penalties over the unrelenting Spooners Hill side in the final, watched by a sizeable crowd at Harrison College after the scores were locked 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
After gaining a 1-0 lead midway in the first half through a curling right-foot shot from 25 metres by Romario Watson that sailed over the head of Spooners Hill goalkeeper Ron Pile into the roof of the far corner, Ellerton staved off relentless pressure from their opponents in the last five minutes.
Just after Ellerton’s coach Corey “Beenie Man” Barrow, who had to substitute their injured captain Shane Codrington early in the second half, replaced their talisman Jabarry Chandler who had struck the right post after breaking free – and brought on his sibling Jade Chandler, Spooners Hill sensed an opportunity to stage a fightback.
Sweeper Ricardio Morris pushed forward, linking up with Kemar Headley and Zinio Harris to launch a series of attack on Ellerton’s goal where Raheem Thomas was marshaling his troops.
Spooners Hill were rewarded when the lanky Myles Norville, lurking at the back post, stabbed home a corner from Harris.
But Norville headed down another corner and the ball bounced over the crossbar while Shaddieze Greene’s weak shot was easily collected by Ellerton’s goalkeeper Kevin Barton.
Barton was to be Ellerton’s hero in the penalty shootout, saving spot kicks from Harris and Romario Small.
Shakeel Belle, Rashawn Brathwaite, Watson and Shaquile Beckles were on target for Ellerton while Morris ands Headley converted their penalties for Spooners Hill.
A delighted Barrow attributed the success of the team which played unbeaten to “a total team effort”.
“It’s a great feeling. The boys worked really hard. They played unbeaten and deserve to win,” he said.
The finals in the Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 age groups will be played today at the National Stadium.
In the Under-17 division, Empire and Pro Shottas will play for the title at 11 a.m. Empire beat Cosmos 2-0 while Pro Shottas beat Trident Splash Parkinson 5-1 in the semi-finals at Weymouth.
In Under-15 quarter-final action, Kick Start defeated Paradise 3-1, Gall Hill won over Cosmos 2-0, Pro Shottas A defeated Pinelands 3-1 and Pro Shottas B defeated Maple Leaf 5-0.
Gall Hill prevailed over Pro Shottas 6-2 in the semi-finals while Kick Start beat Pro Shottas 5-3.
The Under-13 semi-finals produced wins for Pinelands over Gall Hill (2-0) and Parkside of England against Pro Shottas (1-0).
