Clarke’s Street win Mt Salem Summer Football League

In an epic final, which was played against the backdrop of the Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO), which was declared last Friday, Clarke's Street defeated Tenement in a dazzling sudden-death penalty shoot-out to win the 2017 Mt Salem Summer Football League title.

"It was an unbelievable final ... all excitement from the first to the final whistle," said Winsome Barnes, a member of the competition's organising committee. "It was a fitting end to what was a wonderful competition."

In a game in which the organisers had to seek special permission from the ZOSO ground commander to play, the Tenement team took an early second-half lead. However, the resilient Clarke's Street struck back late in the game as regulation time ended with the score locked at 1-1.

Following a scoreless period of extra-time, in which both teams played well, the game was thrown into the dreaded penalty shoot-out. After both teams missed their first spot kicks, they went perfect thereafter, ending in a 4-4 deadlock.

It was then down to sudden-death. Tenement missed their kick, while Clarke's Street converted to earn a well-deserved win and Kerry Thomas Trophy, symbol of Corner League football supremacy in Mt Salem.

The competition, which was played under the banner, 'One Community, One Mission, One Peace,' was organised to promote peace and unity in the community.

"The players and spectators had to present IDs at the checkpoints to get to the game, but that was not a great problem," said Barnes. "I think I can safely say that our objectives were met as the community was peaceful throughout the competition."