MONTEGO BAY, St James — St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) stayed on course for their first ISSA Under-19 football double, qualifying for next Saturday’s final of the ISSA/LIME daCosta Cup after beating Port Antonio High 2-0 in the semi-final played at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay yesterday.

Despite Khesanio Hall’s goalless streak extending to three straight games, STETHS got second-half goals from Jovan James and substitute Teavor McCollough to set up an interesting decider against Garvey Maceo High.

Hall had scored in 17 straight games up to the quarter-final game against Frome Technical when they were held goalless for the first time this season, and despite some good looks at goal yesterday, failed to break the drought.

Garvey Maceo had booked their place a day earlier after beating Frome Technical 2-0 in Santa Cruz.

This will be STETHS’s third daCosta Cup final in five years after winning in 2009 and losing last season. They have won the last four Ben Francis Knockout titles.

STETHS coach Omar Wedderburn, who was reduced to tears after his team was beaten 1-0 in extra time in last year’s final by Glenmuir High, said after yesterday’s game he was not lingering on the past but was focusing on his job over the next week.

“We have to now refocus on the final and what we have to do to get these players ready,” he said.

Carl Brissett, who was in the semi-final for the first time and showed some nerves on the sidelines, said the first goal that came after 55 minutes knocked the fight out of his team.

“We planned to hit them on the counter, but we lost the game after the first goal… we did not play well and that was why we lost the game today.”

Despite Wedderburn saying STETHS did not play well in the first half, they had a handful of scoring chances, some they created, others they were gifted but failed to capitalise on.

Port Antonio’s goal-keeper Zandy Walker almost handed STETHS the lead in the 23rd minute when he misplayed a ball that flew over his head, but he managed to scramble back to push away the ball before it had completely crossed the goal line.

Hall’s free kick from about 20 yards came back off Walker’s right post in the 29th minute and two minutes later the striker was sent through by a ball that was played over from midfield but Devonte Davidson was well-placed to block the shot for a corner.

Walker was forced to scramble on all fours to get to a ball in a melee of players in the six-yard box in the 33rd minute before they managed to repel the waves of attack.

Port Antonio got their best chance of the game in the 38th minute when a ferocious free kick from Cordel Kennedy beat STETHS goalkeeper Enrique Rochester, but crashed on to the crossbar and back into play.

STETHS finally got the deserved lead 10 minutes into the second half when James hit the ball on the halfvolley from close range after a cross was swung in from the right side.