Sherland Griffith scored a double as Petrotrin Premier League leader, OJ Soldado FC trounced Siparia Spurs 3-0 in the Southern Football Association (SFA) inaugural Anthony Cook Big-Four knockout final at Skinner Park, San Fernando on Sunday. After icing T&TEC in Friday's semifinal at the same venue, Soldado, the "Pride of Cedros" left SFA 2010 League champion, Spurs beaten to run off with the $4,000 winners' cheque and trophy. The final lived up to its billing with end to end action as both clubs kept the custodians and the woodwork busy throughout the encounter with OJ's having the better of the exchanges.
They were eventually rewarded in the 28th minute via a strike by Griffith to lead 1-0 at the interval. On the resumption, Soldado continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges and doubled its lead to 2-0 in the 66th minute when Dexter Alleyne's unleashed a corker before Griffith's delicately placed headed lob from atop the area left the Spurs goalie stranded to put the icing on the OJ's. In the evening's first match, T&TEC lit up Brickfield Falcons 5-1 to take third place led by braces from Brendon Burke (6th, 18th) and Dwight Charles (68th, 71st minute). William Garcia added the fifth item for T&TEC in the 79th minute while Although Kevon Christopher got a consolation item for Falcons.
In Friday' semifinal, OJ Soldado edged T&TEC 2-1 and Spurs blasted Brickfield 8-0. After the match, SFA president Rudy Thomas thanked tournament sponsor Anthony Cook for his invaluable contribution as a private citizen, especially when corporate sponsorship was difficult to access. Cook indicated that he was simply providing our young footballers with an opportunity to develop their sporting and personal skills through this medium. Both men also lamented the condition of the playing surface which constrained the players in displaying their true abilities and hoped that more would be done by the custodians of the venue to upgrade the playing facilities.
