St George’s Stallions retained their Masters Knockout Cup title when a well-struck effort from 20 yards by Rudell Pitcher gave them victory in the derby at the National Stadium.

Stallions, who beat Young Men’s Social Club in last year’s final, were forced on the back foot as St David’s posed an early threat with OJ Minors lively up front.

In a match that allows unlimited substitutions, the holders, fielding a team that included former Bermuda players Neil Paynter, Shannon Burgess, Kentoine Jennings and David Bascome among the substitutes, were forced to make a first change after only three minutes when Jennings went off injured, to be replaced by Karl Roberts.

However, soon they started to settle down with Yusaff Pitt creating a couple of good chances before Pitcher broke the deadlock in the sixteenth minute with a volley from 20 yards that caught goalkeeper Ankoma Cannonier off his line.

Stallions turned to their subs soon after that, bringing on Bascome, Jerome Laws, Dean Bailey, Lionel Cann, Sinclair Gibbons and Carlos Greaves midway through the first half to give them some fresh legs. Cann was their hero last year with two goals in the 3-1 win.

Pitt had the ball in the net early in the second half but the effort was ruled out for offside.

At the other end, St David’s offered some late resistance when Minors, back on again after a break, turned and shot over the bar.

Stallions’ Gibbons supplied a good cross from the left side and Laws’s header at the far post forced a good save from Cannonier.

St David’s almost forced the match into extra time when Gregory Outerbridge’s pounced as the ball slipped out of Troy Hall’s clutches, but his effort from eight yards was blocked by Paynter.