Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Calabar's captain Robert Palmer (centre), holds the Olivier Shield surrounded by teammates and members of the school after playing to a 1-1 draw with Godfrey Stewart yesterday. Calabar won the shield 3-2 on aggregate at the Constant Spring complex. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
CALABAR HIGH were crowned all-Island schoolboy football champions after playing to a 1-1 draw with Godfrey Stewart in the second leg of their Olivier Shield encounter at the Constant Spring complex yesterday - winning 3-2 on aggregate.
Calabar, third time lucky in their quest for the Olivier Shield - the symbol of schoolboy supremacy, showed they were the best schoolboy team with a close, but somewhat comfortable victory following their 2-1 win last Saturday at Jarrett Park.
The speedy Cleyon Brown found acres of space in the box and calmly slotted home in the 36th minute, giving Calabar a deserved 1-0 lead and more importantly, a two-goal cushion to be leading 3-1 on aggregate.
However, Godfrey Stewart responded immediately when Dwayne Williams headed home from a corner in the 38th minute to level the scores on the day.
David Hunt, the silver-haired coach, was hoisted by the boisterous and ecstatic Calabar supporters moments after delivering the prestigious trophy for the first time to a school rich in history and tradition.
"I am very happy for the Calabar fraternity," said Hunt. "Twice they have gone to the Olivier Shield final and were not able to take it home," he said.
It was a different story for Carl Palmer, coach of beaten finalists Godfrey Stewart, who hit out hard on the refereeing decisions of Hughill Thompson and his assistants.
"We saw a lot of tugging and a lot of pulling and the referee allowed it to play. But whenever we do anything like that we are being penalised. It was a poor game on the referee," said Palmer.
"I have learnt a lot. I might get myself in trouble, but it is a very hard road for a new school like Godfrey Stewart to win the daCosta Cup and come and win the Olivier Shield. The Calabar team got away with everything," he said.
OPENED SCORING IN THE 36TH MINUTE
The game started briskly with Calabar dictating the early running and deservedly opened the scoring in the 36th minute.
Brown collected a ball in the box and with oceans of space calmly slotted home as the partisan crowd went wild.
But immediately, Godfrey Stewart responded. The powerful Josimar Crooks eluded Robert Palmer and drove a fierce shot with goal written all over it. But goalkeeper Oneil Wilson made a brilliant save and parried the ball away for a corner.
From the resulting corner, 'Captain Marvel' Dwayne Williams headed home to level the score and reduce the deficit to one.
A few missed chances by both teams followed with Crooks of Godfrey Stewart and Kenneil Hyde of Calabar missing easy opportunities.
The second half never lived up to the first-half excitement as Godfrey Stewart were reduced to pounding long, hopeful, searching balls while Calabar were content to contain.
In the end, the better team won and the 62-year-old dream of Calabar lifting the Olivier Shield was finally realised.
