Friday, August 26, 2005 Steve Rezo pulls it off for Hamilton Croatia

THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR - Hamilton Croatia made it back-to-back Spectator Cup titles on the weekend as the sports club edged Hamilton Star 1-0 before about 900 fans at Brian Timmis Stadium. Steve Rezo decided the 109th championship tilt in the 55th minute. Rezo was steaming towards goal when a cross from the right side of the penalty area by Silvano Rajkovic looped into range and Rezo's header buried the ball in the left side of the goal. It was the fourth Spectator Cup victory for the Hamilton Croatia Sports Club. "It's great to win again and great to win a trophy that has been around for over 100 years," club president Mark Vuksan said. "The Spectator Cup is older than the Stanley Cup and the Grey Cup." In other Cup finals, Flamborough Gators defeated Mount Hamilton 5-3 to capture the women's crown and in the oldtimers' championship, Zagreb weathered a late storm by F.C. Njegos to win 6-3. The men's final opened with Hamilton Star applying non-stop pressure on Hamilton Croatia but the defence held and after the first 20 minutes, the teams traded attacks as play moved up and down the field. Croatia came out after the interval and pressed hard, yielding the Rezo goal 10 minutes into the half. Then, with 15 minutes to go, they nursed the lead with a defensive stance that bent but didn't break. Chris Tournidis was called on to make key stops and the desperate Star attack led to several thrilling breakouts for Croatia. Fullback J.J. Grubisic was stalwart on defence for Croatia and midfielder Ned Simic also shone in blunting the Star offence. Beth Watson had three goals and Paul Sousa a pair in Flamborough's second Cup triumph. They also won in 2002. Proceeds from ticket sales went to The Hamilton Spectator Summer Camp Fund.