Buckley’s hat trick seals Excelsior’s seventh straight title
Published:Tuesday | April 25, 2023 | 1:15 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
FLAWLESS, emotional, classic and triumphant are all apposite terms that could be used to describe Excelsior High’s journey en route to their seventh straight ISSA/Tip Friendly Society Schoolgirls Football Competition title and their 10th overall as they defeated Holmwood Technical 8-0 in the final yesterday at the Stadium East Field.
Excelsior, who started as heavy favourites, stamped their class from as early as the first minute as the menacing figure of Shaneil Buckley, with Excelsior’s first attack, delivered the goods as she calmly slotted home from close range. Buckley was again on the scoresheet in the second minute following an all-round team build-up to power home her effort from inside the box. Excelsior’s relentless attack kept the Holmwood defence busy as Shauntai Pryce’s powerful shot made it 3-0 in the fourth minute. Buckley’s hat trick was completed in just the 10th minute as her one-touch finish put Holmwood in a 4-0 hole.
Cassandra Smith’s double in the 32nd and 69th minutes, along with Jada-Lee Bryan’s finish in the 46th and striker Shylah Francis’ 79th minute goal, capped off a brilliant season for the Xavier Gilbert-coached team which went unbeaten in the 2023 campaign.
Gilbert stated that having scored as early as the first minute, his team pushed the opponents on the back foot which played into their hands perfectly.
“We really controlled the game from start to finish and, especially in women’s sport, once you score that early, most times you tend to win. I think that we managed the game well and we didn’t give them many opportunities. When they’re firing it’s difficult to stop us to be honest; nevertheless, it was a total team effort and we have to give them credit. The opposition didn’t offer as much as we would have wanted, so all in all we won convincingly,” Gilbert stated.
Despite being on the losing end, head coach of the Holmwood team, Maurice Duncan, commended his players for reaching their first-ever final.
“I’m elated with the fact that the girls made it to our first final ... . This is a very young team. At the start of the season, I didn’t even know that I would have been in a final, so I’m pleased with their efforts but we just didn’t get it right,” Duncan revealed.
In the day’s earlier encounter, Garvey Maceo finished their 2023 season with a third-place finish, following their 2-1 victory over Manchester High. Liha Williams (14th minute) and Dahlia Whyte (34th minute) were on target for Garvey Maceo. Manchester High got their consolation goal from Rhyanna Dixon in the 49th minute.