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EXCELSIOR HIGH School extended their reign in the ISSA TIP Friendly Society Schoolgirls football competition, claiming their ninth straight title with the 1-0 defeat of Holmwood Technical High School in the final at Stadium East on Wednesday.

Captain Destiny Powell scored the all-important goal for the 'Eagles', converting a penalty in the 49th minute of the contest.

It was the challengers who started the better of the two, and came close to scoring when Jamara Jones struck the post in the fifth minute, before Kiana Ferguson's follow-up crashed off the crossbar.

Holmwood's striker Abbie Kaye Reid would prove a nuisance for Excelsior's defence in the first half, her blistering pace continuously putting her through on goal.

However, Reid failed to capitalise on her opportunities, with her best chance coming in the 27th minute. Through on goal, Reid dragged her shot wide of the mark.

Excelsior grew into the game during the second half and when Powell was brought down in the box, her team earned a penalty. The Excelsior scoring ace would step up and make no mistake from 12 yards, firing her team into the lead.

Holmwood's afternoon would further spiral into chaos as Jones was shown a straight red card in the 71st minute when she pulled on the hair of Excelsior's defender Dejaunae Lewis.

Excelsior's head coach Xavier Gilbert said: "I'm very disappointed in how we played that first half, especially some individuals in particular. I thought we were much better, but we didn't show that today," he said.

"However, I'm happy that we won. Some of the players were a little bit nervous -- it is their first time playing in a final and at the start of the game they were a little bit nervous, and I think that filtered down to the other players."

In the first match of the afternoon, Garvey Maceo High won the third-place match as they defeated Merl Grove High 3-1.

Goals from Sajane Anderson (38th), Jully-Ann Howard (61st) and Sara Needham in time-added sealed the win for Garvey Maceo.

Breanna Marr's opening goal for Merl Grove in the 11th minute proved to be a consolation effort.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com