Quest Prep faced Hydel Prep in the second semifinal of the Alberga Cup on Saturday December 7th hoping to erase the memory of the penalty shootout heartbreak they suffered in the final of the Henriques Cup a eight days before.
Quest Prep faced Hydel Prep in the second semifinal of the Alberga Cup on Saturday December 7th hoping to erase the memory of the penalty shootout heartbreak they suffered in the final of the Henriques Cup a eight days before.
As defending champions of the Alberga Cup, Quest were determined to go all the way to the final and give themselves a chance of finishing the season with some silverware.
Both teams started the game brightly and an even opening to the contest saw Andru-Lee Cassanova of Hydel, get the first effort on target for either team when his screamer was tipped over the crossbar for a corner by Blaine Byam in goal for Quest.
Five minutes later, Quest danger player and captain, Michael Allen, turned on a dime before unleashing a powerful grounder that whizzed past the right upright.
Matthew Miles followed the example of his captain, firing off a good shot which inched over the crossbar as Quest took control of the game. Revaldo Mitchell was doing a good job distributing in midfield for the defending champions as he controlled the tempo for his team.
Hydel were not without their chances and saw a wicked in – swinging corner cleared off the line in the 18th minute. Two minutes later, an excellent pass from Cassanova to Raheem Francis down the right flank was whipped in to Damoy Whitehorn who fluffed his lines when he should have given his team the lead. It was the best clear opportunity of the game up to that point for either team.
Hydel captain, Rushane Thompson saw his long range free kick easily handled by Byam before Quest had to see of consecutive Hydel corners as Junior Bryan coached team, finished the half strongly.
The teams went on 0-0 at half time, in what had been a very engaging affair.
Quest came out on the front foot in the second half, gaining a free kick with just seconds on the clock which was taken by Allen. The effort went harmlessly wide to the dismay of the noisy Quest supporters.
Quest gained a corner kick in the 34th minute which was quickly taken by the fast thinking Jahiem Rose. The floated effort into the box was headed just wide by Allen as his team pressed for the go ahead goal.
Hydel were determined not to be over run in the second half and the outstanding Cassanova combined well with Whitehorn who played in Dante Thorpe. The effort from Thorpe was just wide of the target.
Dushane Bernard, Hydel’s top player, was getting more and more into the game as his teammates were benefitting from his industry. Whitehorn had another chance to get the opening goal of the contest but as he broke free, Byam advanced to close the angle as the effort went just wide once more.
The signs were there for all to see and it was no surprise when Bernard stepped up to give Hydel the lead. The talented midfielder drove a fierce effort into the left hand corner of the goal midway the half, as Byam’s late despairing dive was futile to stop the shot.
With just under fifteen minutes left to play, Bernard dropped back to protect the slim lead he had given his team.
Allen, the leader for Quest, tried to rally his troops as his flicked effort went inches over the crossbar just two minutes after the Hydel goal.
Jhadai Williams, who had had a quiet game by his standards, fired a beauty on target only to see the effort headed away by Thompson. He followed up that effort with another shot on target which was headed off the line by Bernard who fiercely protected the one goal lead.
With the clock ticking down, Quest threw everything, including the kitchen sink at Hydel as they saw their title slipping away. The spectators on the sidelines were willing them on while the Hydel spectators begged their boys to just hold on for a few more minutes.
A Quest free kick with two minutes of regulation time left to play was whipped in by Mishach Wallace but no one was able to get a head to the ball.
The final chance for Quest came in the final minute of stoppage time when another quick free kick from Rose was thundered against the crossbar by Tushawn Lawson.
The final whistle brought an end to a season of near misses for a quality Quest team, who’s fate was sealed by another near miss.
Winning coach of Hydel, Junior Bryan commended the performance of both teams after the match, “It was a good game and I must commend both teams. The game was worthy of a final and both teams are technically sound.
“There are one or two outstanding players that need to be highlighted from both teams, Michael Allen and Revaldo Mitchell from Quest and Damoy Whitehorn and Dushane Bernard from Hydel especially. There has been progress during the season in my players and hopefully it will carry over into the final.”
Somber Quest coach Errol White, was understandably downtrodden with having to relinquish the title but was pleased with his young troops all the same, “The effort was good from the boys today. They tried hard but it just never fell for us today.
“It is just unfortunate how we conceded, it was their only shot on target in the second half. Fatigue is a major factor as we have had to play nine matches in twelve days (Samsung Cup included).
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