Excelsior make light work of main rivals
Book place in eighth consecutive schoolgirl football final
Published:Saturday | April 20, 2024 | 12:09 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
EXCELSIOR HIGH School brushed aside semifinal opponent Garvey Maceo High School at the Prison Oval to book their eighth straight appearance in the ISSA/Tip Friendly Schoolgirl football final on Thursday.
Garvey Maceo were seen as the biggest threat to the Mountain View Avenue school’s grip on the schoolgirl title.
However, in the end, a brace from Andrene Smith (28th and 80th minutes) and one each from Destiny Powell (24th) and Jada-Lee Bryan (34th) saw Xavier Gilbert’s team to a convincing 4-0 win over the Clarendon school.
After a dominant performance, Gilbert said his team were always in control and should have even scored more.
“We handled the situation well and executed as best as possible to ensure we made it to the final.
“We missed some opportunities in the first half and were a bit more wasteful in the second.
“But because we scored three goals in the first half, mentally we were not as focused, and the decisions up top was not the best.
“So we could have been a little more ruthless in front of goal. Nevertheless, 4-0 winners in a semifinal against a tough opponent is creditable,” he said.
Excelsior take on Holmwood in a repeat of last year’s final at the Stadium East at 4:15 p.m. on Monday, and Gilbert believes that once his team turns up again for the final, they should go on and make it eight in a row.
“It is going to be a tougher test than last year, but if we come out and do what we are supposed to, I believe we will retain our title.
“I think we are a better team than them but on the day we have to come out and execute,” he said.
Holmwood booked their place in a second successive final after a 4-2 penalty shootout win over first-time semifinalists Edith Dalton-James after the teams battled to a 0-0 draw.