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Having lost the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) U17 final on Sunday to Harbour View, Cavalier Soccer Club's coach Everdean Scarlett laid the blame on his team's lack of preparation.

Cavalier were turned back 2-0 by Harbour View FC, with Kajay Fletcher and Kelvin Brown scoring for the Stars of the East.

Scarlett was a disappointed man after the game, feeling his players were far from their best.

He said the players had not entered the final with the mindset to win, something he had noticed from the lack of effort in their training sessions leading up to the game.

"I think my team's performance was pretty dismal. We won the semi-finals last week and we had a week to prepare for the finals and it was just atrocious in the training sessions," he lamented.

"The effort to train for a final was just not there and I think that is what beat us today. If you don't train, then this is the result that you get."

Harbour View had taken the lead in the first half when Fletcher opened the scoring in the 27th minute.

Brown would seal the win soon after the half-time break, taking only five minutes following the restart to double the lead.

Cavalier would create their fair chances to get back into the game, but lacked the final touch needed to turn the tide in their favour.

"We created a number of chances but we just couldn't but the ball in the back of the net. Like I said before ... we didn't train enough."

Despite his disappointment, Scarlett believes the defeat could prove a wake up call for a team that had become accustomed to winning.

"Even though we've lost this final, these boys have been playing together for years. They won the KSAFA U15 two years ago and last year they won the Jamaica Premier League U17 league," he explained.

"They are used to winning and I think they will bounce back."

ACHIEVING OBJECTIVE

Speaking in a post-match interview, Harbour View's head coach Sydney McFarlane praised his players for achieving the objective they had set before the start of the season.

"From when we start our from before the season, this was our goal and I'm glad we've met our objective," he said.

Spectators at the National Stadium were treated to a thrilling game as the Stars of the East turned on the flair against their opponents.

Both goals came from individual brilliance, as Fletcher opened the scoring in the first half when he - picking up the ball just inside the attacking half - glided by three defenders before slipping the ball past the goalkeeper at his near post.

Brown, who had been a nuisance all game, also showed off his footwork as he dribbled by two markers to let loose a shot that nestled into the goal.

McFarlane said it is a core part of the football development in Harbour View FC to encourage their players to be creative.

"Those are some of the things that we try to do and we also try to be play a team game, inside of being individuals," McFarlane said.

He explained the key is finding the right balance between individual brilliance and team plays.

"What we try to do is when the time comes and you have to use your individual skills, then you can be confident. Most of our players are very good in one-on-one situations so we encourage them to do so, and we do it in our training as well."

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com