Catherine Hall cop title

Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:

Catherine Hall FC won their first St James JNBS/Hart Senior Football League on Sunday at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay when they scored a big 5-2 win against Melbourne Strikers in the second-leg final, to win the two-way tie 7-3 on aggregate.

"This win is not only for the players, it is also for the West Green and Catherine Hall communities, as well as our loyal sponsors who stayed with us all the way," said Garfield Anderson, coach of Catherine Hall. "We must thank God for making it such a successful season for us."

In a game in which they mixed caution with spurts of aggression, Catherine Hall got their goals through Damion Sappleton, Philmore Thompson, Alden Cameron, Jamaal Thompson and Jermaine Wright. Dalton Hines and Glenroy Sewell got Melbourne Strikers' consolation goals.

By virtue of their win, the Catherine Hall team took home the JNBS Trophy and $150,000. In addition, they also qualified for the 2009-10 Captain's Bakery Western Super League, a qualifying tournament for the Digicel Premier League eliminations.

Brisk start

After a brisk start to the game, the Catherine Hall team, with a 2-1 first-leg advantage, took the lead in the 16th minute when Sappleton slipped through the Melbourne defence and fired home easily, making the score in the contest 1-0.

With time running out in the first half and Melbourne looking somewhat lacklustre, Catherine Hall made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute when the speedy Thompson (Philmore) pounced on a cross before the goal and calmly slotted home, making the half-time score 2-0.

Melbourne wasted a good early chance to get back into the game when they were awarded a penalty in the 51st minute. However, Trevan Allen booted wide from the spot.

However, Melbourne made amends in the 60th minute when the overlapping Hines nodded home, making the score 2-1.

Pulled level

With Melboune showing more fight, they pulled level in the 79th minute when substitute Sewell fired home a long-range beauty that had the large crowd going wild in admiration.

However, Melbourne's joy was shortlived as Catherine Hall quickly regained control of the game. In the 83rd minute, the wily Thompson (Philmore) crossed perfectly to Cameron, who fired home to make the score 3-2. Four minutes later, Thompson (Jamaal) dribbled the Melbourne defence and fired home, making the score 4-2.

With the fight knocked out of Melbourne, Catherine Hall sealed the issue on the stroke of full-time when Wright fired a savage long-range scorcher, which gave the goalkeeper no chance, making the final score in the game 5-2 and 7-3 overall.