JC crowned Walker Cup champions after penalty controversy

St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) are not unused to being on the wrong side of penalty shootouts, but today’s Walker Cup final for the pre-season favourites they would end 7-6 left a more-than-usually bitter taste.

Following a 1-1 full-time draw with Jamaica College (JC) inside the National Stadium, STATHS would see two opportunities to walk away Walker Cup champions go a-begging.

In the first instance, at 4-4 in the penalty shootout, JC’s Jabari Howell leaned back only to see his penalty cannon off the crossbar.

However, JC substitute goalkeeper Jason Charles came up big to parry away Richard Livingston’s spot, sending the game into sudden death.

Then at six-all, STATHS goalkeeper Jaheem Williams seemed to have saved Zondean McLean’s penalty only to see the fourth official speaking to the referee after vociferous appeals from the kicker.

On replay, it turns out the ball was moving just ahead of the kick and according to the rules, all objects involved in the penalty must be at rest.

Despite the entreaties from the STATHS officials, McLean was allowed to re-take his kick and his confident hop and skip sent Williams the wrong way at the second time of the asking.

Seemingly put off by the circumstances, Kevin Hall would miss his team’s potential leveller, leaving an aggrieved STATHS to lick their wounds from another lost shootout.

Earlier STATHS had gone into an early lead thanks to a brilliant header from Leon Brown in the fifth minute, only to see that advantage also wiped away from the penalty spot.

In the 59th minute, Malachai Morgan was brought down in the box and JC captain, Renson Sayers Jr, who would also score in the penalty shootout later, made no mistake.

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