Caledonia AIA have now won three major trophies this season - and the season-ending Courts Pro Bowl is still to come.
The Morvant-Laventille based club had already won the First Citizens Cup and the FA Trophy, before adding the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield to a growing trophy cabinet with their 3-1 defeat of Defence Force in the Friday's final at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Caledonia captain Stephan David was also voted Most Valuable Player, while Defence Force striker Richard Roy scored the most goals in the tournament. Defence Force, which was without the services of key players Kevon Carter, Corey Rivers, Anton Joseph, Ronald St Louis, Keston Williams and Sean Narcis all due to work commitments.
The final was won within the first five minutes of the second half, when Caledonia struck twice within a minute. First, striker Jamal Gay flicked in a corner-kick in the 49th, and then Makesi Lewis' breakaway pace set up Guyanese left-back Walter Moore for an easy conversion from the centre of goal.
The teams had begun the second half balanced at 1-1, although Defence Force dominated possession in the first 45 minutes. And just five minutes after the restart Caledonia were ahead 3-1 and cruising.
Earlier, Caledonia survived an opening minute onslaught, but won a penalty in the third minute when Defence Force keeper Kevin "Barthez" Graham took down striker Devorn Jorsling in the penalty box. Kareem "Tiny" Joseph stepped up to convert the penalty and give AIA a 1-0 lead.
It could all have gone so different for Defence Force, who had their opponents under siege with four tries at goal in the opening minute through Josimar Belgrave (twice), and strikers Richard Roy and Ross Russell Jr. Caledonia AIA 'keeper Zane Coker and his defenders were scrambling in all directions to keep the ball out of the net, but after surviving they launched into a swift counter-attack and won the penalty.
Defence Force pressed for the remainder of the half and dominated possession, but looked vulnerable to the odd Caledonia counter-attack. Finally the Army pressure bore fruit in the 40th minute when Roy powerfully converted Jerwin Baltazar's crossball with a downward header from the centre of the goal.
It was a well-deserved equaliser. But after the brilliant start to the second half, Caledonia were comfortably in control, and might have added a fourth when left-midfielder Lewis broke clear of the defenders, had Graham not deflected his shot for a corner-kick.
Defence Force looked jaded for much of the second half, and tried to retrieve the situation in the final ten minutes of the match. It was in those tension-filled moments that the work of referee Michael Ragoonath came under scrutiny.
The match official did not distinguish himself and some of his decisions were hotly disputed. Defence Force wanted a penalty when the onrushing Coker got nowhere near the ball and instead bundled Roy over, who had controlled Kerry Edwards' cross in the penalty area. Ragoonath dismissed their claims. There was another controversial moment during a free-kick.
Moreso, the official must take some blame for his lack of action during a moment that eventually led to the late dismissal of both Jorsling and Defence Force central defender Curtis Gonzales, after the men got into a physical confrontation. Ragoonath did not take charge of the situation when Jorsling menacingly confronted Gonzales a first time, after the defender had put in a heavy tackle.
Jorsling confronted Gonzales a second time and pushed the Army man, who retaliated. Following a fracas between the teams, both men were sent off, and continued the dispute all the way to the dressing room. The bad blood saw Defence Force only reluctantly taking part in the presentation ceremony; for Caledonia it was a chance to toast another success.
Teams –
Caledonia AIA: - Zane Coker; Radanfah Abu Bakr, Nuru Muhammad (Kemron Purcell 78th), Colin Nelson (Ataullah Guerra 50th), Kareem Joseph; Stephan David (capt), Keyon Edwards, Makesi Lewis, Walter Moore; Devorn Jorsling, Jamal Gay (Abdallah Phillips 70th).
Defence Force: - Kevin Graham; Rodell Elcock, Devin Jordan, Aklie Edwards, Marvin Jones (Kerry Joseph 69th); Curtis Gonzales, Jerwyn Balthazar, Ross Russell Jr, Jahvon Neptune (capt) (Levi Serries 81st), Josimar Belgrave (Balondemu Julius 60th); Richard Roy.
Referee: - Michael Ragoonath.