Scotiabank Group cop fifth-straight trophy
SCOTIABANK group won their fifth-straight Bankers Association Trophy when they edged Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) 2-1 in a penalty shoot-out after both teams played to a 0-0 full and extra time draw in the final of Western Sports Inter-Bank Five-A-Side Football Rally at the NWC Playfield, Mona, on Sunday.
The 2013 season kicked off with the traditional dress parade to determine which team was the most prepared. Scotiabank Group placed first, with RBC Royal Bank second, and Bank of Jamaica third. The rally had eight teams participating.
The semi-final saw BOJ clipping NCB 1-0 with Marcus Brodber scoring the lone goal in extra time after both teams played to a 0-0 draw. Defending champion Scotiabank Group stopped ICWI 3-0, with Stefan Bartley, Ramoun Reid and Jermaine Gardener scoring.
Both BOJ and Scotiabank played to 1-1 draw in the first match of the day in the preliminary round.
The final was an evenly contested game, which went into extra time after Akeem Themstead, Dasean Meeks and Mark Powell failed to beat goalkeeper Jabari Wallace on numerous occasions. Goalkeeper Joseph Sardath also came up big for BOJ, as he also prevented Anthony Greenland, Stefan Bartley, Jamoy Sibbles, and Akeeli Martin from scoring.
In the dreaded penalty shoot-out, Akeeli Martin scored the first spot kick to send Scotiabank 1-0 up, goalkeeper Jabari Wallace then saved Dasean Meeks’ kick. Captain Stefan Bartley scored the second kick and Mark Powell scored to make it 2-1. Anthony Greenland’s kick was then saved by Joseph Sardath, but Andre Campbell blasted his kick over the crossbar to give Scotiabank victory.
All eight participating teams received two Puma match balls from sponsors Western Sports Limited.
The league competition for the Norman Goodison Trophy will commence on Sunday with three matches. In a double-header at Emmett Park, St George’s College and defending champion Scotiabank will play Sagicor Group at 2:00 pm, RBC Royal Bank will meet JNBS at 4:00 pm, while 2012 beaten finalist Bank of Jamaica will meet former champion NCB also at 4:00 pm at the Old Men’s Hockey Field, Mona.