KO Showdown! - Boys' Town, Arnett hunt Jackie Bell Trophy

BY LIVINGSTON SCOTT Observer staff reporter

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

FOLLOWING exciting semifinal victories over Harbour View and Tivoli Gardens, respectively, Boys' Town and Trench Town rivals Arnett Gardens will clash in the decisive Yellow Pages/KSAFA Jackie Bell Knock-out final this evening at the Waterhouse Mini-stadium at 7:00.

The game will be preceded by a St George's Old Boys versus a Master, Celebrities and Entertainers match at 5:00.

Boys' Town turned back Harbour View, 2-0, to reach the KO decider, while Arnett Gardens bested fierce rivals Tivoli Gardens, 3-2, in an ill-tempered affair where four red cards were issued — three to Tivoli players.

Both coaches have high hopes of lifting the Corporate Area top KO football prize, with Arnett seeking their sixth lien on the trophy and Boys Town hunting their second on the coveted silverware.

Boys' Town coach Andrew Price said this is the team's first chance of picking up a trophy this season and they will try to make the most of the opportunity.

"This is the first opportunity we will get to have some new silverware this season and we want to take it at the first chance there is and then deal with the other two trophies that are available for the remainder of the season," he said.

"If we go out and play anywhere near what we're capable of, we should bring home the Jackie Bell title," Price told the Observer.

He said the team has lost a vital player in wing-back Xavian Virgo, who has been sidelined for the past three weeks with an ankle injury. But he pointed out that they have done fine without him so far.

"Virgo is a very big player for us and when he comes in he will give us an added dimension, but with him being out we had to look at players to replace him," he said.

"We haven't played him for the last three weeks and we've been winning games on the trot, so if he does not become available, then at least we have players who can fill the void," he stated.

As Price noted, the Red Brigade have been on a good run, going unbeaten in their last five matches, which includes four in the RSPL, and he believes this is due to their improved condition -- a factor he believe will play an important part in this evening's outcome.

"Our form has been good over the last three weeks and our fitness has improved tremendously, so as the game gets longer, we are likely to get stronger.

"But we must play hard and defend well and when we get opportunities we must put away our chances," he reasoned.

"Our hallmark over the last few weeks is that that we're playing all-round, so it's about playing both sides of the field and executing, and if we go out and execute then we should have a positive result," he added.

However, Price thinks the game would be better supported if it was held at the Tony Spaulding Complex.

"I have no problem going to Waterhouse, but I think that if the game was played at the Anthony Spaulding Sport Complex they (KSAFA) would get a much bigger crowd.

"We (both teams) would be on common ground as the two teams come from the community, so the supporters wouldn't have very far to travel.

"But irrespective of where the game is played it's a cup final and we have to go out and execute, and anywhere the final is played both teams will have to play on the same surface..." he said.

Arnett, who last won the Bell Trophy in 2005, are in their second successive final and coach Paul 'Tegat' Davis, who lost to Harbour View in his first season with the club, is looking to go one step further.

"I was very disappointed last year. It was my first time in a cup final since I got here and how we lost was unfortunate," he recalled.

"But this year I think the players have accepted in their minds to really go for it... We know it's a cup final and it's one game, so it's for the guys to go out and play and we have made up our minds to fight for the cup," he declared.

The 'Junglists', unlike their opponent, have not have the best of results recently. The red and black-clad standard-bearers have gone five RSPL game without a win, but Davis also believes it will come down who wants it more.

"Both teams are good teams, so it's on the day who wants it more... but we just need to play the football we need to play and we will come out victorious," he said.

Unlike Price, Davis is neutral in his views about the venue chosen for this evening's game.

"Last year the game was played at Tivoli and it could have been played here (Tony Spaulding) the same way, but in football you have to learn to adjust... so anywhere they put it we're ready to play," he said.

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KO Showdown! - Boys' Town, Arnett hunt Jackie Bell Trophy