St Catherine-based Bridgeport High and Eltham High advanced to the semi-finals of the ISSA Corporate Area Schoolboy Walker Cup Knockout after scoring quarter-final victories over St Andrew Technical and Excelsior High at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

Bridgeport turned back St Andrew Technical 2-0 on a double strike from Kemar Phillpot, while Eltham edged Excelsior 4-3 on penalties after the teams battled to a 0-0 draw after regulation and extra time.

In the feature game of the double header, Eltham had the better of the chances in a scrappy affair and could have won the game in 90 minutes.

In the first-half, Eltham had good opportunities through Damion Binns and Canniggia Johnson, but neither could hit the target from inside the box.

On the resumption, Johnson and Binns wasted two great chances to put the Spanish Town-based school ahead.

Excelsior, on the other hand, had a couple of half chances that they could not capitalise on.

After 90 minutes failed to produce a goal, Dwayne Williams got a great chance at the start of the extra period for Eltham, but he headed over the crossbar after goalkeeper Jonah Morgan misjudged a corner.

When extra-time failed to separate the team, it was down to the dreaded penalty kicks.

Johnson, Jason Wallace, Ramiz Gordon and Binns scored for the former knockout winners.

Stephen Morant must have felt hard done after he missed on his second attempt, when the referee booked him and ordered a retake after he paused in his run-up before slotting home his first kick.

Brett, Ramon Rogers and Kevin Blackwood scored for Excelsior

Eltham coach Gregory Allen said his team was disciplined and followed instructions.

“We wanted to play behind the ball and we did that good because we were disciplined and we were focused,” he said.

His counter-part, Halliman, conceded that Eltham wanted it more, but pointed out that his team was tired from the recent run of games.

“We played gallantly, but our two main strikers did not get into the game… but hopefully we can get some rest and come for the Manning Cup,” he said.

Earlier, Bridgeport, who are playing in the Walker Cup for the first time since 2001, advanced to the semis after a comprehensive first-half display which was highlighted by a brace from Phillpot.

The Anthony Patrick-coached side took the game to their opponent from the opening whistle and eventually made the breakthrough when the striker converted after 21 minutes.

Bridgeport continued to have the better of play and extended their lead 14 minutes later when Phillpot slotted home from 12 yards in the 35th minute.

Bridgeport coach Patrick said his plan was to win the match from the first-half.

“The first-half was very important… we wanted to press them in the first 20 minutes and see if we could get one or two goals,” he said.

Phillip Williams of St Andrew Technical said going two goals down early in the game was too much for his team.

“It’s hard to come back against a team like Bridgeport when you go two goals down early,” he mourned.

The quarter-finals will continue this afternoon at the same venue with Jamaica College playing St George’s College in the opener at 1:00 pm, while Waterford take on Norman Manley at 3:00 pm.