Former national captain Warren Barrett (left), goalkeeper of the victorious Violet Tourers team, accepts the Steve Bucknor Trophy, symbol of western Jamaica's Masters League supremacy, from its donor and celebrated international cricket umpire, Steve Bucknor, following his team's 1-0 against Hanover Masters. - Adrian Frater

Western Bureau:

Violet Tourers avenged the loss they suffered in last year's final and ended Hanover Masters' seven-year reign as the kingpins of western Masters football when they emerged with a 1-0 win from Sunday's epic final at the UDC playing field, in Montego Bay.

In a game full of excitement, the Violet Tourers team snatched victory through an 87th-minute strike by Troy Campbell, whose deft side-footed effort scored, sending the team's supporters into a dancing frenzy as the ball flashed past goalkeeper Stennett Samms and struck the net.

'We wanted to win'

"We played like we wanted to win this year and we got the result we deserved," said winning coach Delroy Harding. "Hanover have been champions for a long time, so it is about time the title changed hands."

By virtue of their win, the Violet Tourers team took home the Steve Bucknor Trophy, symbol of Masters' football supremacy in western Jamaica, as well as the Spoon Auto Supply Champions Trophy. Each member of the winning team received a medal.

The Violet Tourers team, which feature the likes of Theodore Whitmore and Campbell in midfield, had much the better of the first half and had the chances that came their way been taken, they could easily have had a decent lead at the end of the first half.

Competitive

The second half was more competitive with Devon Rickettes and Paul 'Tegat' Davis putting pressure on the Violet Tourers defence. However, except for a few half chances, they did not manage to challenge goalkeeper Warren Barrett with shots of any real quality.

With time running out in the second half and extra-time looking a likely possibility, Hanover Masters suffered a major setback when, in the 85th minute, skipper and stalwart defender Phillip Wong was red-carded for using foul language to the referee.

Two minutes after Wong's departure, Violet Tourers got the all-important goal from an attack initiated in midfield by Delton Clarke, that saw the ball being flicked on to Campbell, who fired past the advancing Samms, making the final score 1-0.

The following awards were presented after the game: Champions - Violet Tourers -- Steve Bucknor Trophy and the Spoon Champion Trophy; second - Hanover Masters - the Spoon Runner-up Trophy; third Air Jamaica; Best Goalkeeper - Warren Barrett, Best Defender - Garnett Denton; Best Midfielder -Timothy Graham; Top Goalscorer - Norman Foster; Most Valuable Player - Troy Campbell; and Most Disciplined Team - Infernal.