Southampton Rangers Win Shield Final 2 – 1
[Written by Patrick Bean]
A packed house in swag New Year’s Day regalia and raiment were treated to a festival of goals at Somerset Cricket Club on the occasion of the Friendship Trophy and Shield finals.
PHC and Southampton Rangers accounted for seven of the 10 goals scored on the day, with each walking away laden with the silverware afforded champions, PHC successfully repeating as Friendship winners with a 5-2 bashing of over-matched Dandy Town, while Rangers successfully defended the Shield against a gallant Hamilton Parish outfit 2-1 during the day’s opening encounter.
Southampton 2 Hamilton Parish 1
Southampton Rangers added another Shield championship to their trophy cabinet, but not without a momentous fight-back by a pugnacious Hamilton Parish outfit that had Rangers’ coach Jomar Wilkinson and his charges biting their collective fingernails toward the end of regulation time during their 2-1 victory.
A seemingly comfortable double-goal lead courtesy of strikes by Jarazhino Bassett and Donte Brangman was made very uneasy after lanky striker Macquille Walker showed great strength and composure to hold off his marker and slot the ball home under advancing ‘keeper Ajai Daniels in the 54th minute, halving the Parish deficit.
A flurry of offensive pressure from Hot Peppers ensued as they threw everything forward in pursuit of an equaliser, with Rangers defending en-mass and being relieved as referee Lloyd Christopher blew the whistle signifying the contest’ end.
“Definitely some nervous moments at the end, they were playing really direct and pushed two (men[ up high, forcing us to make adjustments and subs to nullify that threat and once we did that it tended to switch the momentum back to us,” told Wilkinson during the prize presentation. “It was definitely exciting for the fans at the end, but I don’t know if I’e got any nails left after that.
“But hats off to Hamilton Parish, they gave us a wonderful game, a wonderful spectacle and my hat goes off to them as a good organisation and I wish them the best in the second half.”
An evenly fought first half ended with Bassett marshaling the ball in from close range after the ball had bounced around the parish defence without being adequately cleared.
Five minutes post interval Brangman took full advantage of poor passing among the suspect Parish defence, gaining possession 25 yards out, forwarding a single dribble before squeezing home a rolling effort a mere feather beyond the fingertips of outstretched goalkeeper Nigel Burgess.
The scoreline remained until the 57th minute when Walker popped up to score and bring hope to the Parish cause, hope ultimately denied.
“It was a hard fought game by both teams,” said veteran ‘keeper Burgess following. “We had a game plan today and we nearly executed it.
“They had a couple chances at goal and they took their chances pretty well.
“We’ve been pretty consistent all season in grinding out results, but the grinding results have not been been totally indicative of the way we’ve actually been playing. We’ve been pretty confident in our game and gave a good show today, which is reflective of the way we’ve been playing all season.
Parish now have the second half to concern themselves with as they stand third in the First Division while seeking promotion to the Premier Division which is afforded the teams finishing first and second.
Southampton _ starting line up: Ajai Daniels, Dominique Hill, Maquel Nisbett-Tankard, Khimo Harrison, Trey Durham, Quadir Maynard, Donte Brangman, Cardel Henry, Jarazhino Bassett, Isaiah Taylor, Rai Sampson. Substitutes: Koshun Durrant, Ronue Cann, Dakarrie Steede, Jahkai Hill, Ezekiel Stoneham, Najiyah Raynor, Antinori Butterfield, Jaloni Albouy, Keedai Astwood.
Hamilton Parish _ starting line up: Nigel Burgess, Shakeem Albouy, Keoki Cann, Shayne Hollis, Ryan Richardson, Menelik Rudo, Giovanni Saltus, Andrew Samuels, Christian Smith, Jeremiah Steede, Macquille Walker. Substitute: Jordon Burges, Chris Caisey, Quincy Glassford, Jordan Lawrence, Jason Lewis, Che Lindo, Keniko Richardson, Reid Trott, Vernon Lambe
