Sainey Ceesay’s 40th minute goal helped Bakau beat arch-rivals, Banjul, 1-0 to land their first zonal trophy in three years and third title in zonal competition.

And Buba Minteh, head coach of the victorious Bakau team, was not surprised that his side prevailed in the replayed final, after the first cracker failed to produce a winner.

“I think we deserved the victory. We played as a team that wants to garner the desired result, and it is not surprising that we got it,” said Minteh who landed Bakau their first zonal trophy since 2004, in his first year as Bakau zonal team coach.

Bakau had more of the possession, as the decisions went in their favour on Sunday, but the City Boys were just clinical in front of goal.

Both sides named a line-up identical to the one that drew in the first final cracker with Banjul however making a few changes, including Ousman Jagne at the front line, in an intriguing 4-4-2 formation.

A long ball was sent into the City Boys goal mouth, and an unmarked Katchically United lad made no mistake in poking straight at goalkeeper Musa Camara.

Unlike the first meeting, where the City Boys came from two goals down to level the scores, Ceesay’s lone goal in Sunday’s replay match separated the two sides throughout the regulation.

As champions, Bakau received a giant trophy and a promissory note for a cash prize of D25,000, while the City Boys consoled themselves with D15,000.

Typical derby match

Sunday’s derby final was not fiercely fought for only by the players on the pitch, but also the enthusiastic supporters, who did not even wait for the final whistle before they engaged in a bitter brawl. Just as Banjul’s supporters stormed the venue in their hundreds, so did Bakau’s fans, who despite their zonal committee’s bad reputation, mobilised themselves to buoy up their team.

No sooner had the first half ended than the supporters of the two sides started throwing stones at each other reflecting the intense rivalry that exists between the sides.