ST Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) STETHS win Ben Francis KO the first piece of a three title season after beating first-time finalists Paul Bogle High 2-0 at Jarrett Park on Saturday to capture their first hold on the Ben Francis Knock-out.

The holders of the daCosta Cup, will continue their defence tomorrow against Spalding High at Brooks Park in Mandeville when the Inter-zone gets underway.

On form striker Denmark Gillings scored both goals for the Andrew Edwards-coached STETHS, one in each half, as they became the first school from the parish to win the KO trophy after losing to Vere Technical in 1982, the first year it was contested.

Munro College also lost twice in the final, to Cornwall College in 2003 and last year to Glenmuir High.

Gillings scored in the second and 77th minutes while Paul Bogle wilted down the stretch and finished the game with nine players after captain Alvis Powell and substitute Janel Lee were both sent off late in the game.

While winning the Ben Francis KO was reward for hard work, Edwards said after the game that there was more work to be done as they have to retain the DaCosta Cup and then win their first Olivier Shield to complete their goals.

To get to the finals, STETHS had to beat 2008 champions St James High 4-2 on penalty kicks on Wednesday at Jarrett Park while Paul Bogle eliminated Manchester High 1-0 in extra time.

STETHS came back twice against St James High, including a last-minute goal from Davian Ash after the St James High goalkeeper Everette Nunes dropped a free kick from Jason Jacobs.

On Saturday, the game had barely gotten underway before the STETHS players and supporters were celebrating the lead, as Gillings dribbled through the middle of the Paul Bogle defence, moved to his left where he found himself with more than enough space to manoeuvre and cracked a left footer past goalkeeper Danon Atkinson.

Kevon Farquharson had two good scoring chances midway the half, a low hard shot that was stopped by Atkinson in the 23rd minute and six minutes later he had time to pick his spot, but his powerful shot sailed high with just the goalkeeper to beat.

After being forced back on their heels for most of the first half Paul Bogle came into their own and was the better team at the start of the second half with midfielder DaShawn Stanton pulling the strings.

The STETHS defence held their own however, and gradually pulled themselves back on level terms.

Gillings should have scored his second in the 62nd minute but he over ran a through pass down the centre of the defence then Ackeeno Palmer’s shot from the left channel was blocked by Atkinson for a corner.

Paul’s Bogle stout defence would crack eventually and in the 77th minute Gillings sealed the issue. A ball was swung from the left side and after allowing it to run a few metres, the striker controlled it and with Atkinson cutting the near angle, hit it back across the goal in to the far corner.

The St Thomas team was down a man a minute later when Powell was shown his second yellow card after a cynical foul on Farquharson, clipping his legs from behind after being late for the tackle.

Lee followed suit 10 minutes later when he was given a straight red card for his tackle on Ockeem Legorie.