Coleridge and Parry are the kings of senior schools’ football.
The boys from Ashton Hall, St Peter, fought bravely to overcome a spirited challenge from the Barbados Community College (BCC) on Friday at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex to prevail 2-1 and lift the Coca-Cola Barbados Secondary Schools Football League Knockout Cup.
CP opened the scoring against their more experienced opponents in the 20th minute. Nadico Smith tried a tame lob but BCC goalkeeper Donte Hinds obviously got his measurements wrong and deflected the ball into the net with his hands.
BCC had great spells of possession which allowed them many opportunities to score but CP’s imposing custodian Joshua Sobers-Henry came up with some heroic point-blank saves.
Outstanding among these saves was a one-handed block which thwarted the left-foot effort of Premier League forward Nicholas Jones late in the first half.
Darian Scantlebury doubled CP’s lead in the 64th minute with a clever piece of play. A CP attacker was fouled about 35 yards from goal, and CP played a quick free kick into the path of Scantlebury who easily placed his shot beyond the advancing Hinds.
With just three minutes to go, national defender Ranaldo Bailey, operating in a midfield role, cut the deficit in half with a left-foot shot from just at the top of the area.
CP then survived a couple of last-minute scares to reign supreme.