St George’s Sports Club defeated Manchioneal Community Club 3-2 at the Boundbrook Pavilion, Portland, to take the Portland Football Association Portland Cooperative Credit Union Knockout Football Competition on Saturday, March 29. St George’s dominated the first half of the match. Horace Palmer the dominating striker for St George’s with team mates Kemar Miller and Andrae Thomas missed several opportunities as Manchioneal’s custodian Anton Crossman was kept active, making saves in the 7th, 11th, 12th and 13th minute. However, Palmer ran in from the back post and headed the ball into the back of the net to score in the 27th minute. Rondee Smith, along with team mates Kesslon Hall, Mario Walker and Verrick Smith pressed hard for Manchioneal but failed to score after several attempts, as St George’s custodian Oraine Hardy was kept busy.
Manchioneal’s Rondee Smith found the equalizer as he scored in the 39th minute to leave the contest level at the end of the first half. Manchioneal came out attacking in the first few minutes of the second half through Kesslon Hall and Verrick Smith who both missed opportunities. St. Georges however, turned up the pressure on Manchioneal as Kemar Miller’s pass to Oneil Brown was scored by Brown in the 56th minute, giving St. George’s a 2-1 lead over Manchioneal. St George’s put the game to bed when in the 79th minute, when Kemar Miller scored from Daniel Shaw’s corner pass. In the last 10 minutes of the match Manchioneal attacked St George’s and won a free kick which was converted by Kesslon Hall, in the 87 minute. Machioneal’s pressure against St. Georges wasn’t sufficient as St. Georges won the match 3-2. Daniel Shaw captain of St. Georges S.C said, “I think we had to play a physical game against Manchioneal. I think they are a very tough team but at the end of the day we were well prepared for this game.” Martin Blackwood, general manager of the Portland Cooperative Credit union said his company was very proud of its $1.5 million dollar sponsorship. “In fact we have expanded the competitions to include the under 20 so it is not narrowing but getting broader and broader.” The competition has been going on for four years. St. Georges S.C won two previous years but Eagle Strikers SC won last year
