MINUTES AFTER MISSING the game-winner in regulation time, Walton Burrowes wasn’t going to make the same mistake from the penalty spot.
Burrowes made the decisive kick as St Michael South Central beat St Michael North 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure third place in the David Thompson Memorial Constituency Councils’ Football Classic at Kensington Oval yesterday.
After South Central’s goalkeeper Wayne Williams made two crucial saves, Burrowes’ powerful right-footed blast proved the perfect redemption for the beleaguered forward, who blew an easy scoring chance – and the opportunity to break a 1-1 deadlock – just seconds before the end of regulation.
And his last-minute gaffe – an easy right-footed shot that went well wide of the far post – looked all the more costly when St Michael North went ahead 3-1 in the shootout following Nicholi Blenman’s missed penalty.
However, Williams turned back North’s last two shots, diving either side to deny Omar Primus and Andre Pinder while Jadai Clarke and Jabar Greene gave Burrowes the chance at salvation.
He showed no signs of indecision either, calmly stepping up to the spot to drill a rocket out of the reach of an outstretched Tazieo Riley, who guessed right.
But what proved to be Burrowes’ redemption only served to add to the downfall of Primus.
The weakly-struck penalty was the second such that Primus had saved by Williams, who denied St Michael North a chance to take the lead in the ninth minute when he comfortably parried a similarly poor penalty shot from the captain.
At least Jamar “Crouch” Grazette made up for his gaffe just six minutes later as he expertly finished a delightful through-ball from Damien Welch off a quick counter-attack.
However, St Michael North were also made to pay for a costly giveaway in their half of the field, with Burrowes picking out Corey Barrow with a pin-point pass at the far post before Bynoe rocketed a right-footed blast right past a stunned Riley in the 24th minute.
It was just one of a barrage of shots that Riley had to negotiate just before the break as St Michael South Central went on an
all-out blitz over the final 20 minutes of the first half. (JM)
