Gilbert looking at six straight after Excelsior claim schoolgirl title
EXCELSIOR HIGH School’s girls’ head coach Xavier Gilbert is already turning his attention to winning a sixth straight TIP Friendly Society Schoolgirl Football title.
On Friday, Gilbert’s charges completed a dominant season with a comfortable 3-0 win over Garvey Maceo in the final at Jamaica College, bringing up their ninth title and fifth in a row.
Second-half goals from captain Davia Richards (53rd minute) and Shauntel Pryce (78th), and a Danielle James own goal (56th), carried Gilbert’s team to the title.
He praised the girls’ dominant display throughout the tournament.
“The girls did well. They were dominant from the start and throughout. We got some good opportunities and should have gone on to win much bigger.
“They tried to catch us on the counter but we made some adjustments and tried to contain them
“But I have to give the girls credit for the work and the performance and making sure we win comfortably,” he said.
Gilbert expects to retain at least 50 per cent of his squad next season, and is confident of a sixth consecutive title.
DIFFICULT TO DETHRONE
“I am pleased, I am looking for more to come. It is going to be difficult but, based on what I am seeing, it is going to be difficult for anyone to dethrone us,” he added.
Garvey Maceo technical director Merron Gordon said it was always going to be an uphill battle against Excelsior.
“We were behind the eight ball all the way but we did well.
“But we expect to get better because we have a good programme at the school and we do well at all levels.
“So, hopefully, the programme will continue to build and we can meet Excelsior in the final again next year,” he said.