Rivoli Happy Sutherland Knock Champions again

File Photo: Rivoli goal scoring machine Corey Burke

If this Happy Sutherland knock out final was to be the beginning of the end for Calvert Fitzgerald and Jabari Baker, one would leaving on a magic carpet while the other would being smuggled out of the back door.

Rivoli FC defended their title stoutly and walked away with their second consecutive hold on the Happy Sutherland knockout trophy, in a feisty encounter at Prison Oval on Sunday. Kenny Lee’s first-half wonder strike was enough to hand Rivoli United a 1-0 win over Old Harbour Bay United.

Calvert Fitzgerald’s well oiled side produced a performance full of attacking intent and verve to fully deserve this historic win against a firm Old Harbour Bay United team.

The game got off to a relatively quiet start but slowly picked up mid way the first half an hour. What was billed as a grudge or cross town rivalry match pulled spectators from every ‘nook and cranny’ of Spanish town and it’s environs. They were served a huge bowl of appetizer in the 13th minute when Rivoli’s main man Corey Burke an Old Harbour Bay native got by his marker with some fancy foot work to set free Kenny Lee, but his ferocious shot went high wide and handsome.

It was evident that the Old Harbour Bay defenders clearly came to destroy Corey Burke, he was fouled fifteen times in the first half. The experienceD no-none sense and aspiring FIFA referee Oshane Nation was vigilant and was on top of his game to quell and diffuse all bombs before they explode. Tackles were flying left, right and center but he managed to kept control of the game for the 90 minutes. Kenny Lee, a former Humble Lion and Albion United player, was desperate to steal the show from Burke.

The attacker has received limited playing time this season, but on Sunday he justified his coach’s decision to give him a rare start by scoring the game’s only goal 17 minutes into the contest. The goal was just reward for Rivoli, whose drive and intensity was sharp and direct. Corey Burke slipped through a neat ball to Lee who controlled the ball expertly on his supposedly weaker left foot, then hammered an unstoppable shot past Royston Morrison in goal for Old Harbour Bay. This sent the packed stadium into frenzy.

Ten minutes later, after the euphoria died down, Rivoli had the ball in the net again after some slick give and go passing on the right side, which was rounded off with a majestic control and finish from Cory Burke, but he was ruled offside.

Not much happened from there on, has poor final passes gave the Old Harbour Bay United defenders an easy afternoon. The half ended one ni in favour of Rivoli.

Both coaches were fired up at the break and decided to inject more pace and guile going forward and they both made two early second half changes.

The noise levels among the Rivoli supporters rose every time the exciting Corey Burke got on the ball and it took a superb block from Old Harbour Bay captain to stop Valentine Gardener’s goal bound shot to end another jinking run into the area.

Old Harbour Bay lacked precision going forward, hence most of their attacks were broken up easily in the center of the park. They continued to struggle to create openings in the second half, even after Rivoli’s right back, Kevin Graham, was ejected after 72 minutes. It was evident that they are a fit team because they pressed Rivoli all afternoon hoping to get a break through, but to no avail.

Rivoli, to their immense credit, refused to take a backward step and gave Old Harbour Bay another anxious moment when Corey Burke long range shot had their custodian scrambling across his goal.

In the dying moments of the game, Old Harbour had a great shout for a penalty when former Rivoli player, Luke Soares, left a defender for dead inside the area after a neat build up, but the ball was blocked by the defender’s hand from Soares stride. The referee waved play on merely because the defender had little reaction time in getting his hand out of the way. This move infuriated the traveling old Harbour Bay supporters who expressed their disgust over the referee’s decision with strings of expletives.

Meanwhile the Old Harbour coach Jabari Baker, argued that this was a déjà vu and he felt robbed of a chance to score.

Credit to the officials Mr. Nation and his team they weren’t perturbed by the insult hurled at them after the game by players and supporters. A finals that could have been better appreciated with more flare, grace and goals from both sides was still credited by both coaches.

Rivoli’s coach, Calvert Fitzgerald, said his team’s superior conditioning made the difference.

“It wasn’t a pretty game and a lot of energy was expended. I think we are a little bit fitter, as they were running with a type of energy they needed to win the game, but we were the fitter team. So we were able to withstand them,” he assessed.

While Baker bemoaned he was robbed.

“From the game started, our back was against the wall. No calls went in our favour we got a clear clear penalty and I don’t know what’s wrong but the referee continued the game. From the first whistle that’s how he treated us,” stated Baker.