Photo: Valin Cameron of August Town turns away from Davian Smith of Highgate United in the FLOW Champions Cup at the UWI BOWL on Wednesday. Highgate won the game 1-0 courtesy of a Andre Hislop header in extra time.
Highgate United pulled off a mild upset over August Town FC at the UWI Bowl with an extra time 1-0 win, as action go underway yesterday in the 2014 edition of the FLOW Champions Cup. The All-Island knock out competition involving the fourteen parish champions and twelve premier league teams from December 2013 is the local version of the FA Cup.
The visiting Highgate had the better of the opening exchanges in the game but the first shot in anger came from August Town’s Fabian Cooke who dragged his shot wide of the right upright. A lacklustre first half saw very little goal mouth action and even fewer goal scoring opportunities. The best chance of the first half for August Town fell to Kemar Brown. The striker received the ball in the box with his back to goal but his tame effort when he turned and shot, did very little to trouble Romaine Hamilton in the Highgate goal.
Eight minutes before half time, Highgate almost grabbed a fortuitous lead when a high swirling shot from Taffarell Crosdale was held up by the strong wind at the Bowl and landed on top of the crossbar.
Highgate started the second half brightly and Rohan Clarke was called into action four minutes in when he had to tip over a rasping freekick by Davian Smith, from 25 yards out, for a corner.
Fans had to wait twenty more minutes for something else to cheer about and it was Smith again who turned sharply on the edge of the area and fired off a shot straight at Clarke who had less problems handling that effort.
The home team finally gave their patient fans something to cheer about 11 minutes before regulation time when Chauncey Delahaye let loose from all of 40 yards and Hamilton had to dive full stretch to his left to effect a save.
The visitors had a chance to win the game in regulation time but Shamir Stewart’s tame header was easily caught by Clarke with three minutes left to play.
Andre Hislop settled the contest just four minutes into extra time when he reacted quickest in the box. A good shot from distance by Smith was tipped onto the crossbar by Clarke and Hislop pounced on the loose ball to head home and settle a below par game from both teams.
The Highgate Manager Maxwell Wilson was happy to advance “It was a gutsy performance from the team. Most of the players have not started to train yet. We had to come with the players who were available, some who we are seeing for the first time today. So we are happy to advance and we hope this win will inspire the players to come out to training.”
August Town coach Michael McIntosh blamed illness for the result “A lot of our players have been out with the flu virus. Most of them were unavailable today and others were playing sick so it could be seen in the performance of the team on the field.”
Highgate with the win has thrown their hat into the ring for round two while August Town will reflect on what if, as the lucrative competition continues.
Other results yesterday saw Black Stars virtually guarantee their community $50,000 with a 7-1 hammering of New Green at Brooks Park Sports Complex while Portmore United struggled to a 4-3 sudden death penalty shoot out win over Old Harbour Bay United after a 2-2 extra time draw.
The team that scores the most goals in each round wins $50,000 for community development from title sponsors FLOW.
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