Red-hot Russia top Goals 4 Life

Western Bureau:

Russia of Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, crowned themselves champions of the inaugural Citizen Security and Justice Programme Goals 4 Life football competition when they upstaged St James' Rose Heights 2-0 in last weekend's final at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay.

"Words cannot explain how happy I am with this win," said Russia's coach Dwayne Forrester, a former Godfrey Stewart High School daCosta Cup star. "I won my first title as a schoolboy player at this venue, so it is a joy that I am winning my first title as a coach right here."

In the play-off for third place, which preceded the final, Rose Heights took third place with a 3-1 win against Glendevon, while in an exhibition game after the final, the Jamaica Under-23 team had a 2-0 win against National Premier League outfit Seba United.

In the end-of-season award ceremony, which followed the final, the Russia aggregation, which was the only non-St James team in the 12-team competition, walked away with the bulk of the awards, taking five of the six special awards alongside the championship trophy.

The awards were: special trophy for sportsmanship - Russia, Coach of the Tournament - Dwayne Forrester (Russia), Most Valuable Player - Kemar Dawkins (Russia), Leading Goalscorer - Kemar Dawkins (Russia), Most Disciplined Team - Glendevon, Best Goalkeeper - Obrian Gray (Russia), third place - Rose Heights, second place - Farm Heights, and champions - Russia.

Russia better team

In what was expected to be a keenly contested final, Russia had the better of the early exchanges and it came as no surprise when they took the lead in the 19th minute. Kemar Dawkins caught the Farm Heights defence napping and made no mistake from the edge of the penalty area, making the score 1-0.

With Farm Heights battling back in search of the equaliser, Russia doubled their lead in the 32nd minute. Ralston Griffiths broke free on a counter-attack and finished bang on target for a 2-0 half-time score.

The second half was fast paced and exciting but produced no further goals. Edward Goldson should have put Farm Heights on the scoresheet in the 50th, but after breaking on goal he fired wide.

Midway the half, Griffiths got a glorious chance to widen Russia's lead, but after tumbling over a challenge from the Farm Heights goalkeeper he directed his shot wide of the goal.

With time running out in the game, Farm Heights missed another chance when Glen Johnson broke clear but, under pressure, fired tamely at the goalkeeper.

- A.F.