Southside FC are the first 2010 Outta-Season football champions. The Gall Hill team showed true fight and character to defeat a resilient FC Lift of Brittons Hill 1-0 last Sunday night at the “San Siro” playing field, Silver Sands, to lift the Denis Lowe Outta Season Trophy.
The final was competitively played and justly so, as thousands turned out to watch the two teams square off in an eagerly anticipated encounter. With little visual or standing room, the large crowd was treated to some high quality and competitive football on the night.
Returning finalist Southside were off to a rather slow start and were forced to defend for most of the early part of the game.
Constant menace
FC Lift’s front man Arantes Lawrence was a constant menace to the Southside defence, manhandling his markers with his strength, agility, and skill.
On one such occasion his teammates and supporters thought he was robbed of a penalty. After gliding past one defender, it appeared as though he was tripped inside the area by one of the Southside defenders, but the referee quickly dismissed any penalty claims.
FC Lift was in the driver’s seat and continued to penetrate the Southside defence with the combination of Rondelle Vaughn and veteran Luther Watson who worked tirelessly in midfield to dominate the early midfield battle which saw them up against Gall Hill FC’s duo of Rico Baptiste and Renaldo Marquez.
Southside did have their share of opportunities and glimpses of goal. Winger Damien Welch was in phenomenal form on the night, going past his marker on many occasions but when the cross came there was no presence in that area.
Southside’s marksman Jabarry Chandler received very little room, being closely marked by the aggressive Jermaine Ceasar who won the battle on the night.
After a goalless first half the spectators were impatiently awaiting the restart and an improvement of the first half. The second half was more evenly contested as both teams sought that important opening goal.
Chandler won his team a corner in the 43rd minute.
FC Lift’s custodian Orlando Carew was caught in no-man’s land and Baptiste dealt the telling blow to give the Southside unit that important lead and one hand on the championship.
