Paget Lions 1 Hamilton Parish 2

Macquille Walker was the toast of the town after his spectacular late winner catapulted Hamilton Parish to Dudley Eve Trophy glory at Wellington Oval on Sunday.

With the game deadlocked and extra time looming, the towering striker kept his cool under pressure to unleash a thunderous, right-foot shot into the roof of the net to secure the Hot Peppers their first major title in top-flight football

“It's always difficult when it’s a final because as a striker you know you don't get too many chances and the chances that you get you have to finish them,” Walker told The Royal Gazette.

“The ball fell for me and I just remained composed and put it home. It’s one of the best goals I have scored in a big game and I will definitely always remember that goal.”

Parish coach Sergio Goater hailed his striker’s late heroics which also earned him his first title as a coach.

“The goal was definitely fitting for a final,” he said.

“Macquille told me at the beginning ‘Coach, I got you' and he delivered. It feels really good to get our hands on this trophy — and as a coach in this division, to win this trophy is monumental for me.

“It’s my first one as a coach, which is extra special. I won many times as a player but to do it as a coach means I have joined an elite club.”

Paget were left to rue missed opportunities, particularly in the second half when they enjoyed their best spell of the match.

“I felt like we should have put away our chances and that’s what cost us at the end of the day,” captain Diaje Hart said.

“We didn't put away our chances, they get a chance and score, that’s what happens.

“It is very disappointing and I feel like I should have taken my chance which would have made it 2-1, but we go again and focus on the league and whatever cup we are in.”

With the wind at their back, Hot Peppers threw numbers forward and went straight for the jugular with Paget goalkeeper Jade Morrissey rushing off his line to gather the ball off the boot of Parish forward Leroy Lewis Jr.

Parish midfielder Jordan Outerbridge then forced a brilliant save from Morrissey, who tipped an ambitious 40-yard free kick over the bar, but he would not be denied moments later as Morrissey was unable to prevent the ensuing inswinging corner from nestling inside the far post.

However, Parish’s joy proved short-lived as Hart sent Hot Peppers goalkeeper Nigel Burgess the wrong way from the penalty spot to bring the teams level after striker Delray Rawlins went down under a challenge in the area.

Paget went agonisingly close to taking the lead when defender Shakir Smith grazed the post during a promising counter-attack and then had an appeal for a penalty fall on deaf ears after forward Kushae Hypolite and Burgess collided in the area.

Parish threatened again when captain Mauriq Hill had a shot from inside the area blocked right on the half-time whistle.

With the wind at their backs, Paget retained possession much better after the restart and carved out ample opportunities to put the game out of reach.

Midfielder Bakari Furbert blasted over from inside the area following a good build-up involving Hart and Hypolite, while experienced forward Dion Stovell forced Burgess into making a save only seconds after coming off the bench.

A wide-open Hart then blew a glorious chance when he blasted Stovell’s pass over the bar from 14 yards, while the latter’s angled shot from around the same distance after getting on the end of Smith’s inviting pass was saved by Burgess.

Those misses proved costly as Walker controlled Lewis’s cross from the left before firing past Morrissey from around the penalty area to ignite Parish’s long-awaited celebrations.

SCORERS

Paget: Hart 22 pen

Hamilton Parish: Outerbridge 19, Walker 82

TEAMS

Paget Lions (4-1-4-1): J Morrissey 8 – S Smith 7, J Carpenter 7, R DeShields 7 (sub: A Russell, 88min), N Carpenter 6 – B Furbert 6 – D Cook 6 (sub: O Tucker, 88), T Davis 7 (sub: A Grant, 88), D Hart 7, K Hypolite 6 (sub: D Stovell, 66 8) – D Rawlins 6 (sub: R Russell, 83). Substitutes not used: O DeShields, D Frost, K Simons, D Joell. Booked: Hart, R DeShields, Cook.

Hamilton Parish (3-5-2): N Burgess 8 – Y Ibraraguen-Ramirez 7, M Hill 7, J Bean 7 – J Outerbridge 8, A Nelson 7, L Lewis 7, K Knights 7 (sub: G Burgess, 67 6), Z Burgess 7 (sub: Q Outerbridge, 72 6) – S Hollis 7, M Walker 8. Substitutes not used: K Wade, K Trott, C Binnie. Booked: Z Burgess.

Referee: A Majors.