XLCR spank Garvey Maceo to retain schoolgirl football title
EXCELSIOR High were again crowned champions after defeating Garvey Maceo High 3-0 in thrilling fashion during the grand finale of the 2022 Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) / TIP Friendly Society Girls’ Football Competition at Jamaica College yesterday.
Second-half goals courtesy of national representative and Team Captain Davia Richards from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute, an own-goal from Danielle James in the 56th minute, and Shauntai Pryce in the 78th minute lifted Excelsior to victory as the young ladies won a fifth-consecutive title and ninth overall.
Camperdown defeated Holmwood Technical 1-0 to claim third place.
Richards won the award for most goals scored, having notched an impressive 31, while teammate Shaniel Buckley was voted Mos Valuable Player for the tournament.
There wasn’t much doubt from the opening whistle who wanted the glory more as the defending champions went on the attack straight away. Excelsior created numerous goalscoring opportunities for themselves but at the end, failed to convert as Sanjane Anderson in goal for Garvey Maceo was brilliant in denying many of those chances, ending the first half at 0-0.
As expected, Excelsior came out the more attacking on the resumption with a couple of shots at goal, but the wild strikes from the forwards proved to be no threat to Garvey Maceo’s goalkeeper.
The first real goalscoring opportunity to put the defending champions in front came in minute 50 when Richards’ left-footed strike from a loose ball just outside of the penalty area went inches wide of Garvey Maceo’s goal.
The breakthrough finally came two minutes later when Richards converted from the penalty spot, and although Anderson dived the right way she was beaten for pace.
Garvey Maceo then succumbed to the pressure from Excelsior when James easily tapped in her own goal via a cross from Excelsior’s Buckley in the 56th minute. Excelsior would finally put the game to rest when Pryce easily beat Anderson from close range.