Prospect 1 North Village 5

North Village put the finishing touches to another successful season by adding the FA Cup to their league championship as they handed minnows Prospect, as anticipated, a 5-1 thrashing at the National Sports Centre yesterday.

Goals by Keith Jennings, Kentoine Jennings, Ralph Bean Jr. and super sub Jason Davis as well as a first-half Steve Gair own goal catapulted the defending cup champions into the history books and sent the club's supporters marching off into the sunset rejoicing in triumph.

Prospect skipper Clifford Roberts converted his team's consolation goal from the penalty spot mid-way through the second half after Kofi Dill handled the ball.

“I wish that it was a bit more competitive,” said triumphant Village coach Scott Morton, referring to his team's convincing win. “Prospect came out there and did their best and I take my hats off to them because they didn't get here (final) by any luck. But obviously all of my players came prepared and in the end got the result that they deserved.”

However, while Village were basking in the glory of successive league and FA titles to join Young Men's Social Club, Somerset Trojans and PHC as the only other clubs to have won the coveted double in consecutive seasons, Prospect's woes were compounded by the first-half loss of striker John Richmond to a suspected broken foot.

Richmond was taken to hospital after clashing heavily with Village goalkeeper Zane Hendrickson.

But if it was any consolation, another Prospect player, ‘keeper Khun Evans, took man-of-the-match honours for an outstanding performance between the ‘sticks', that time and again thwarted a hungry Village attack.

Evans added a touching moment to the proceedings as he was emotionally overwhelmed by the post match announcement and had to be helped by applauding team-mates as he made his way up the podium to receive his well deserved award.

“It's a privilege to be put in that category,” added Morton, alluding to Village joining the exclusive club of back to back league and FA Cup champions. “But there's still a lot of work that remains to be done, as far as us winning and winning convincingly and playing the way that we like to play for the entire 90 minutes.”

Like a physician with scalpel in hand, Village wasted little time surgically dissecting their First Division opponents. Utilising the full width of the spacious ‘carpet', Village delighted those on hand to an attractive display of deceptive flicks, precision passing and intelligent football.

With Kentoine Jennings, Jamaul Boyles and Keith Jennings forcing Prospect on the defensive almost from the opening kick-off, the relentless pressure finally paid off for Village as Gair redirected Kevin Jennings' firm low cross from out on the left into his own goal.

Keith Jennings then had his team's supporters in a frenzy when his 20-yard free kick went directly through the Prospect defensive wall and into the bottom right hand corner to give Village a 2-0 lead.

Already having suffered the loss of Richmond, Prospect players and team officials held their breath when skipper Roberts went tumbling down, writhing in pain after a hard challenge with Keith Jennings.

After several anxious moments, and plenty of magic spray, the player returned to the fray - much to the relief of the Prospect support.

Repeatedly denied by Evans on several occasions, Kentoine Jennings finally found a way past the stubborn goalie courtesy of one his trademark headers. Jennings powerfully connected his head to brother Kevin's precision corner kick to give Village a commanding 3-0 lead.

Village were twice denied by the framework while any thoughts of a Reds shutout disappeared when a composed Roberts made no mistake from the penalty spot.

However, Village were themselves back on a celebratory run when Ralph Bean Jr - wearing his father's famed number seven jersey - was finally rewarded for his perseverance as he complemented a fine piece of work from second-half sub Dwight (Payback) Warren that started from midfield.

Substitute Davis then completed the rout by scoring Village's fifth and final goal, as by now Prospect were clearly a beaten bunch.

“A lot of work has been put into this team,” added coach Morton, now a firm candidate for coach of the year honours.

“The players have been committed, my coaching staff and the executives have all been committed. And this is just reward for all of their hard work.

“They always say that it is easier to win trophies but harder to defend them. But we have now proven that we can do both.”

Prospect: K.Evans, A.Daniels, C.Roberts, P.Bailey, S.Gair (D.Reece, 45 mins), L.Mathurin (T.Brown, 73 mins), Q.Francis, C.Lopes, V.Ball, J.Richmond (N.Woods, 14 mins), L.Davis.

North Village: Z.Hendrickson, J.Boyles, K.Binns, K.Dill, M.Hansey, T.Outerbridge, Ken. Jennings (J.Davis, 73 mins), Kev. Jennings (D.Coddington, 67 mins), Jem. Jennings, R.Bean Jr, Keith Jennings (D.Warren, 64mins).

Booked: P.Bailey, Q.Francis (Prospect); Keith Jennings (Village).

Men of the match: K.Evans (Prospect); R.Bean Jr. (Village).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.