ST George's College (StGC) sealed the coveted Corporate Area schoolboy double with a 2-1 win over Kingston College (KC) in the final of the ISSA/Digicel/Gatorade Walker Cup Knock-out competition at Constant Spring yesterday.

Substitute Davion Kelly scored the winner for the Neville Bell-conditioned boys in the 60th minute after KC's captain Richard Wilson (48th) had cancelled out Mark Browns 45th-minute opener.

Bell was proud of his players for putting on a gritty performance against their old rivals.

"Before the game I said it was going to be tough, and it was. It was always going to be difficult to get them in shape for this match.

"I thank God we got it together and we won. It was not the typical smooth St Georges College, but we showed a lot of grit," said Bell, who previously won the Walker Cup as coach in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

The St George's team, which won the Manning Cup title on Saturday, looked short of inspiration and verve in the early exchanges against their North Street neighbours.

The talented KC outfit, still showing signs of the disappointment of the secondround exit in the Manning Cup weeks ago, failed to take advantage, despite promising attacking forays from left-sided player Shamala Ashman and midfielder Jorginho James.

Instead, it was the newlycrowned Manning Cup champions who went ahead when Brown pounded in from close range on the stroke of half-time.

The KC team, which last won the KO title back in 2000, fought their way back soon after the interval through Wilsons goal from a corner kick. The defender rose highest at the back post to force a header past goalkeeper Nico Campbell.

Kelly, who has consistently scored crucial goals, including a double in the Manning Cup final, came off the bench to immediately restore the 'Light Blues' lead on the hour mark.

The powerful forward attacked a loose ball and executed a well-placed halfvolley from just inside the 18-yard box.

Despite going behind for a second time in the game, KC remained fairly solid at the back as the diminutive Jason Greenland and Andre Hare fought gamely to hold off the threats of St George's midfielder Richard Garvey, the speedy Kendon Anderson, Kelly and fellow substitute Cardel Benbow.

In the final 15 minutes, St George's College enjoyed the better of possession, but the Trevor Harris-coached KC remained dangerous from crosses and set pieces.

The hundreds of spectators watched as both teams agonisingly squandered late chances, which left St George's with a 2-1 win and an eighth lien on the Walker Cup title.

Harris bemoaned the missed chances, but praised his opponents for having a good football infrastructure.

"I think we fought hard, but we got our chances and we didn't take them. I take nothing away from St George's because they were strong and I think they have perhaps one of the best schoolboy football organisations right now," Harris said. 

Source: Jamaica Observer