Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Seba United crowned themselves champions of the 2007 St. James Western Sports Champions Knockout competition yesterday afternoon when they clipped ACS 1-0 in a keenly contested final at the Catherine Hall Stadium in Montego Bay.

The Seba United team, which pocketed $70,000 and took home the coveted Western Sports Trophy for their winning effort, got the deciding goal from the boots of Norman Foster, who had an outstanding game.

"It would have been nicer if we had won by a wider margin but nonetheless, a win is a win," said Seba United's coach Hopeton Gilchrist. "Earlier this season we won the Captain's Bakery KO title, so it has not been a bad season for us overall."

The game started with ACS, the reigning St. James Hart & Son Senior League champions, getting back-to-back chances in the third minute of play through Garnet Wint. First, he had his close-range shot blocked by the goalkeeper and when the rebound fell at his feet, he slotted wide.

Good chances

Seba quickly regrouped and got two good chances in the 10th and 15th minutes to take the lead.

First, Foster clipped a neat free-kick to Stephen Forrest but he booted wide and second, an overlapping Scion McNish directed his powerful header over the crossbar.

On the stroke of half-time, ACS squandered what looked a certain goal. Wint pounced on a pass down the middle but instead of shooting, he kept on twisting and turning until he lost possession to a defender. The half ended 0-0.

Seba United started the second half looking quite composed and should have taken the lead in the 47th minute. Glenroy Miller got away before the goal but from a difficult angle, he fired straight at the goalkeeper.

After surviving a close break by ACS when Marvin Muirhead booted wide from close in, Seba took the lead in the 77th minute. Foster pounced on a neat cross before the goal, skillfully squeezed between two defenders and then fired powerfully past the goalkeeper, making the score 1-0. Finding themselves behind, ACS went into overdrive, launching several attacks. However, except for a glancing header by Muirhead in the 86th minute, the Seba defence kept them at bay