The West retained their Bermuda School Sports Federation senior boys All-Star title after prevailing 7-6 in a penalty shootout with their rivals from the East at the National Stadium last night.

Both teams remained scoreless at the end of regulation time and converted all five of their penalties to leave the match still hanging in the balance heading into sudden death penalties.

Jamel Amory put the West up 7-6 with his team’s second kick from the penalty spot in sudden death before Quinaceo Hunt, the West goalkeeper, saved Darin Woolridge’s effort to seal the deal.

Irving Romaine, the West coach, took his team’s hard-fought victory in his stride.

“In all, it was all about these guys just trying to play good football,” he said. “Not winning or losing, but trying to play good football for the spectators.

“We had a college coach here and so it was all about enjoying the game and trying to get these guys out of here.”

The West went close twice in regulation time with Omari Tucker and Tahjae Webb striking the post.

“The strikers happened to miss goals, but that’s part of football,” Romaine said.

The West defended superbly, giving very little away at the back.

“I thought the defenders played well, even with the wind playing a little havoc,” Romaine said.

The match did not go without controversy as the East had a strong case for a penalty denied in the second half, and then during the penalty shootout Hunt made two saves which the referee ordered to be retaken, something which left Romaine seething on the sidelines.

“It was a little hard on my goalkeeper,” he said. “He does well on penalties and he saved the first two and they called it back.

“He lost a little bit of spirit but it worked out well and we were still able to get the victory.”

Colin Stewart, the East coach, was pleased with his team’s performance on the pitch despite coming out on the losing end.

“It was a good, entertaining game,” he said. “Both teams played well and I think it was a fair result.

“Anybody could have won it, and my players have nothing to be ashamed of.”

The East dominated the day’s other games, winning the Middle School Boys game 5-1 and the Senior School Girls game 7-0.

Deshae Darrell and Teyah Lindo both scored twice for the East, with Lindo putting in an outstanding display in midfield and scoring twice from distance.

Zakiyah Durham, Symira Lowe-Darrell and Micah Pond also scored in a game where East only had 11 players, fortunately for Naquita Robinson several of them were national team players.

“I got the privilege of coaching the East side which is stacked with national team players or players who have played in the national team,” she said.

“The West team had not as many national team players and are probably a little more inactive, therefore not having an opportunity to have the ball at their feet as much as the East team.

“Teyah Lindo is a very good player, still has room to grow but that was always her range. When she came into the national set-up that’s what she could do the best.

Not only did she score two fantastic goals but she was instrumental in defending and probably got three assists as well.”