DESPITE a far less impressive season than last year when they swept both the league and knockout titles, Joe Public will defend their knockout crown when they take on WASA Clean & White in an all East derby to conclude the 2005 Sportworld National Super League knockout competition.
The finalists meet tomorrow from 7:30 p.m. at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. The 'Water Boys' WASA , reached the final after shutting out Couva Players United. The match was tight for most of the first half and was goalless until the 55th minute when Billydee Scantlebury shot WASA into the lead. And despite Couva's effort to pull level, it was WASA who pushed further ahead in the 68th minute when Stephen Pierre's goal gave them a comfortable 2-0 victory.
Meanwhile, Joe Public scored in each half to register a similar 2-0 victory over Tobago's Stokely Vale. Former national midfielder and ex-Hibernian professional Lyndon "Chubby" Andrew shot the "Eastern Lions" ahead in the 16th minute, while striker Carlington Smith sealed the win in the 85th.
The Super League knockout competition has also served the purpose of selecting five teams to compete in the National FA Trophy competition. Semi-finalists WASA Clean & White, Joe Public, Stokely Vale and Couva Players United have all gotten automatic berths, while the fifth place will be determined by a playoff on Sunday.
JOE PUBLIC SPORTWORLD SUPER LEAGUE KNOCK-OUT:
WASA Clean & White F.C. 2 (Billydee Scantlebury - 55th; Stephen Pierre - 68th) Couva Players United 0
Stokely Vale F.C. 0 Joe Public F.C. 2 (Lyndon Andrews - 16th; Carlington Smith - 80th)