EXCELSIOR High School’s Head Coach Keon Broderick has expressed his determination to add this year’s Walker Cup title to the institution’s rich football legacy in the competition. Excelsior, who hold a record seven Walker Cup titles, secured their place in this year’s final with a 2-0 victory over Wolmer’s Boys’ in the semi-finals at Stadium East field on Thursday.

Kivann Salmon, in the 42nd minute, and Terrence Williams in the 78th minute, were the goalscorers for Excelsior in a match that was played in heavy underfoot conditions due to persistent rain.

Excelsior will meet Mona in the final of the competition, after the latter defeated St Andrew Technical 4-3 on penalties following both teams playing out a 1-1 draw in full and extra time.

Broderick, who has been coaching the team for the past two years, emphasised that they are focused on winning this year’s trophy and will pull out all the stops to end the season on a high note.

“As a past student, I want to add to the history of this school,” Broderick said. “Excelsior would have had a history of winning the Walker Cup more than any other team, and we want to add to that tradition as well.”

“Once you reach the final of a competition, it is something to feel good about. The boys have worked hard throughout the season, and to reach this far — albeit it is not the final that we want to be in — but we are in a final and we are grateful for that,” he added.

Broderick also praised his team’s adaptability to the challenging playing conditions.

“I am very pleased about our performance because the boys adapted well to the slippery conditions, and they gave a good account of themselves. As a result, we were able to win the game and move to the final of the competition,” Broderick said.

Meanwhile, Wolmer’s Head Coach Jerome Waite reflected on his team’s challenges, attributing their loss to the poor underfoot conditions and a costly mistake in midfield.

“It wasn’t an easy task for us because, as you can see, the weather [prevented] some good football. And I think that my team did fairly well up to the point where we made that error in the middle of the park, which they [Excelsior] capitalised on and scored against us,” Waite said.

“But it was a good season for the Wolmer’s family and we can only make things better come next year,” he added.

Excelsior, who last won the Walker Cup title in 2008, dominated the early exchanges, creating several clear-cut chances in the opening 20 minutes. They were finally rewarded three minutes before half-time when Salmon collected a through ball from Davian Manroe and fired past goalkeeper Juri Dryden.

Wolmer’s pressed for an equaliser in the second half but were thwarted by a solid Excelsior defensive unit. Williams sealed the victory 12 minutes from full time with a deflected, long-range effort that sailed past Dryden and into the back of the net.