A policeman points his firearm in reaction to shots being fired while play was stopped during the KSAFA Jackie Bell Knockout final between Waterhouse and Harbour View at the Harbour View Mini Stadium last night.
LAST NIGHT's Jackie Bell Knockout final between defending champions Harbour View and Waterhouse was brought to an end after 77 minutes when shots rang out from the hills overlooking the western stand as Waterhouse fans and players disputed a disallowed goal.Harbour View, down to 10 men following Jermaine Hue's 55th-minute ejection, were leading the Corporate Area knockout final 1-0 off Kavin Bryan's 32nd-minute goal before pandemonium broke out at the east Kingston venue, sending spectators scurrying from the stands and on to the field of play. Pressing for the equaliser, Water-house won a free kick to the left of Harbour View's penalty area, which substitute Damion Powell teed-up to kick. Powell, one of the heroes from Waterhouse's 1-0 semi-final win over Arnett Gardens last Wednesday, fired in a scorcher, which flew high into goal, beating Harbour View goalie Dwayne Miller. However, as Powell streaked across to the Roxy Williams Stand to celebrate the equaliser, assistant referee Malacho Brown, on the far side, raised his flag, calling back the play. Referee Karl Tyrell consulted with Brown and immediately signalled a spot-kick, infuriating Waterhouse supporters, a few of whom stormed the field to question the call. Harbour View chairman Carvel Stewart and security personnel attempted to calm the Waterhouse supporters, who would have none of it and started raining missiles on the field. After it was obvious the call would not have gone their way, things took a turn for the worse when shots rang out and more bottles flew from out of the stands. A second barrage of shots was enough for the officials to call off the match and the St John Ambulance team was later seen carrying a spectator, who had fallen and hurt himself during the stampede. Referees' official, Martin Lyn, told STAR Sports the goal was called off-side as a Waterhouse player, later identified on video replays as Irvino English, had moved directly in front of goalkeeper Miller before Powell had kicked the ball. Lyn said in addition to being offside, the player had also impeded the goalkeeper, interfering with the play.
A policeman moves to restore order at the Harbour View Mini Stadium last night, while two Harbour View players, Christopher Harvey (left) and Jermaine Taylor, look on. The Jackie Bell KO final was aborted after 77 minutes when gunshots rang out at the venue. - Ricardo Makyn
Spectators scurry from the stands at the Harbour View Mini Stadium last night after shots rang out during the Jackie Bell KO final between Harbour View and Waterhouse. - Ricardo Makyn photos
Teams: Harbour View: Dwayne Miller, Clifton Waugh, Christopher Harvey, Lance Laing, Kevin Wooley, Richard Edwards, Donald Stewart, Jermaine Hue, Lovel Palmer, Kemar Petrekin, Kavin Bryan. Waterhouse: Maurice Evans, Desmond Breakenridge, Michael Stone, Oneil Thomas, Vincent Earle, Leon Strickland, Jonathan Williams, Jomo Gordon, Irvino English, Damion Williams, Hugh Howell.