A Fitzroy Daley wonder goal booked the Islanders a place in the Terry Evans Cup Final with a 2-1 win over Old Madrid. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Sheldon Harry "just saw the back of net" as he fired home the equaliser for Old Madrid. Photo:Charlie Jackson/VINO

Hanif James made several crucial blocks to deny the Islanders and keep Old Madrid in the game. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

The winning goal by Daley came 2/3rds of the way through a game which had seen a lackluster first half spring to life early in the second with the Islanders opening goal from Rohan Lenon cancelled out within two minutes by a powerful strike from Sheldon Harry. “Kenmore Simmonds went up for a header, but got a nudge from the defender and the ball landed nicely for me and all I could see was the back of the goal.”

A great cup run from Old Madrid came to an end, but Harry wasn’t too disappointed. “We are happy with the way we played; we have potential and if we had put away a few of our chances in the first half the outcome could have been different

Daley also commented that in the first half the Islanders had not played well. “We should have been playing more serious and took it too easy. We started off playing like we had the game won, were too relaxed, but turned it around in the second half.”

The Islanders should be applauded for continuing to play “pretty” football in the first period despite still trying to bed in new players after several from last season’s team have moved on, but “pretty” only really wins prizes in pageants and the current state of the pitch is no place to hold a pageant of any kind. However, Coach Avondale Williams was quick to make changes, first in bringing on Lenon and then Carlos Septus in an attempt to add some extra pace and movement upfront in what had hitherto been a one dimensional  forward line.

In a half that ended goalless, and with neither keeper tested nor with any corners conceded, Old Madrid were at least competitive and had the best chance to open the scoring when Dion Clarke fired his dipping volley over the bar.

Nearly going behind spurred on the Islanders with Alex Green threading a pass through to Francis Primo who in turn put the ball past the last defender and into the path of Andy Davis whose left-footed shot flashed just wide of Hanif James’ near post.

Daley also had a golden opportunity when he dribbled past three defenders but was unable to make contact with the ball with just James to beat.

Whatever was said by the Coaches, Williams and “Mandraker” Mills, at the break worked wonders as the game suddenly exploded into a proper cup tie.

“The first half was very competitive, the old Madrid team came out to play football and we under estimated them a little. In the second half we shuffled a few things and reverted to a starting eleven after giving the bench some playing time and came out victorious.” stated Williams.

Firstly, Septus played a great ball for Lenon to run onto and he showed great skill in flicking the ball past the advancing James and into the net to make it 1-0. Then Kenmore Simmonds caused uncertainty in the Islanders box and the ball fell kindly to Harry who had no hesitation in lashing his shot past Shain Henry for the equalizer.

Another lull in proceedings followed and a delay in play as the Officials sorted out an over run of people in the technical areas did little to help the flow of the game, but at least some action ensued with the Islanders wasting the games first two corners, James punching clear from the third and blocking a cross from Septus. Henry was also suddenly in the thick of things when a Simmonds free kick, awarded for a hand ball by Green, had him back pedaling to make the save.

Several Old Madrid players claimed the ball had crossed the line, but their remonstrations were waived away by the Referee.

Then came the Daley volley to settle matters and send the Islanders through to the final where they will face the Sugar Boys, who beat them 5-0 in the Wendol Williams Cup Final just a couple of short weeks ago. “I know what I had to do,” said Daley. “I took a touch inside the defender and then once I knew I made good contact it would go in.”

Williams has no plans to change things too much for the final and is hoping his new players will have learnt enough from playing together since that Final to be able to gain revenge. “Everybody is talking about that 5-0 result, but we have been rebuilding the team and the team spirit so come Sunday we will put up a good fight and give it to the Sugar Boys.”