HARBOUR VIEW RULES CARIBBEAN
CLUB FOOTBALL.
After defeating Tivoli Gardens 2-1
December 15, 2004
A new page was
added to the history books of Jamaican Football. Wednesday night, December 15,
2004 under the newly established lights of the Edward Seaga Sports Complex,
Harbour View Football Club after defeating Tivoli Garden 2-1 earned the right to
be called Caribbean Club Champions, becoming the first Jamaican team to win the
prestigious award.
CFU Caribbean
Champions Cup.
Harbour View, leaders of
the National Premier League, clipped their fellow Jamaican club, 2-1, in a
ravishing second-leg encounter after both had tied the first game, 1-1, at the
mini-stadium last week. Harbour View strike first when Craig Stewart stitched up
a wicked left-footer from 25 yards, giving Harbour View the lead at the 23rd
minutes. Stewart, fed by his namesake, Donald Stewart, with his back to goal,
turned and 'wet' a wicked shot that crippled Tivoli's defense and sailed along
the turf, past the outstretch hand of the diving Porter, into the left corner of
goal.
TIVOLI HIT BACK
Tivoli hit
back when Fabian Davis scored from an acute angle after 58 minutes by beating
goalkeeper Leighton Murray at his near post.
Fifteen minutes from full time, Coach Donovan Hayles summoned up Jomo Gordon to
replace the battling Nicholas McCreath who soldered on through a painful ankle
injury. It would be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Full of energy,
confidence exuding and motivation peaked, Jomo drifted away from his marker when
“Man of the Match” captain Jermaine Hue slipped a through ball to his left for
the fleet-footed Lovel Palmer who calmly squared to substitute Gordon for a 90th
minute header to sealed the championship honors for the “Stars of the East”.
Gordon also crowned himself leading goal scorer of the Caribbean leg by scoring
his tenth (10) goals, following a four timer and a hatrick in Montserrat. Luton
Shelton finished close behind him on nine (9) and his third strike partner
Nicholas McCreath, finishes out the top three, with six (6)
CELEBRATION
TIME
The
celebrating exploded instinctively by all the squad members, supporters,
executives and well-wishers. Coach Donovan Hayles wept emotionally while
dedicating the game to recently decease executive member Roxy Williams.
"I can't find words to
express my feelings... the team showed character, the whole mettle of being
champions," a teary-eyed Hayles said. "They performed beyond my expectations in
these two legs. We have been in this competition six times and we have finally
overcome... this victory is for the community, the cheerleaders, our chairman,
president," he added, fighting back tears. Flashes lit up the night skies,
smiles were even brighter as the spotlights illuminated the nights proceeding
opposing supporters strolled homewards in total agreement of the high level of
football displayed by both Jamaican champions.
Although
Tivoli was the vanquished on this night, they played high quality football,
matching the victors stride for stride. It was a game of high quality and both
teams should be generally satisfied with their efforts.
"I
thought we played well especially in the second half... but it is just one of
those days because we had many good chances to score, but on a day when things
are going your way many of those chances would be in the back of the net," said
a gracious Tivoli coach, Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey.
"I think some good football was played and I think that this is good for the
development of the sport here in Jamaica...," he added.
ROCK THE
COMPOUND
Harbour
View mini stadium was designated the appropriate venue to celebrate the occasion
with XZIBIT CRU DISCO, the Harbour View die-hards, community enthusiasts,
players, officials and everyone else within the vicinity of the Compound enjoyed
themselves until early Thursday morning. Victory was sweet to the taste.
Harbour View
- Leighton Murray, Jermaine Taylor, Damion Stewart, Christopher Harvey, Craig
Stewart, Lovel Palmer, Donald Stewart, Sean Fraser (Akeem Priestly (74th),
Jermaine Hue, Luton Shelton and Nicholas McCreath (Jomo Gordon (77th).
Booked:
Palmer (30th) and Taylor (74th)
Sub
not used:
M Barrett, R Scarlett, W Richards, and M Blackburn
Tivoli
Gardens
- Kirk Porter, Kasai Hinds, Victor Thompson, Marco McDonald, Orane Simpson,
Christopher Jackson, Waheem Walker, Steve Green (Denroy Gordon 52nd), Fabian
Davis, Roland Dean and Christopher Nicholas.
Booked:
Gordon (90th)
Subs not used:
L Hyde Jr, R Brown, P Crumbie, K Mills, M Morgan and M Gillings
