Manchester vs Cornwall College match-up to highlight second round matches
SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — The Group Two game between Manchester High and Cornwall College at St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex in Santa Cruz will highlight today’s second round of matches in the quarter-finals of the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup football competition.
Cornwall College, leaders in Group Two, are one of six schools that will be seeking to win back-to-back games and at least secure a place in the ISSA Champions Cup, while Manchester High will be seeking to rebound from their 0-0 draw against Maggotty High on Tuesday.
The other winners form the first set of games seeking back-to-back wins today are defending champions Clarendon College and Anchovy High against Cedric Titus and Manning’s School, respectively, in Group One; Frome Technical and Dinthill Technical will face Port Antonio High and Petersfield, respectively, in Group Three, and McGrath High face B B Coke in Group Four.
In other games Maggotty High oppose Garvey Maceo, and St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) take on Happy Grove.
Cornwall College have had the better of Manchester High, winning their last three meetings but Coach Dr Dean Weatherly has failed to get the better of Vassell Reynolds, who took over the reins at Manchester High this season.
Reynolds was at the helm at Wolmer’s Boys when they edged Cornwall College in the all-island knock-out final in 2016 and was the man in charge at Rusea’s High when they beat Cornwall College in the quarter-finals of the daCosta Cup in 2017.
Cornwall College are coming off a tough 1-0 win over a previously unbeaten Garvey Maceo at Juici Field, while Manchester High, who were held goalless for the first time since they were beaten 4-0 in the quarter-finals by Clarendon College last season, and are expected to rebound today.
Maggotty High, who have conceded just eight goals in their 14 games, held the high-flying Manchester High, who had scored 50 goals in their 12 games. And today Cornwall College will hope they can find the formula to stymie them as well.
Dane Golding has been in fine form for Manchester High with 14 goals and will lead the line along with Johnoi Simpson, and Livingston Walker.
Six players have scored for Cornwall College in their last four games and this could present a match-up problem for the Manchester High defence.
Solano Birch has shaken off an early season sub-par form and has scored four times in the last few games and once again will be expected to carry the hopes of Cornwall College, along with Denyu Ricketts, Kemali Powell, and Calvin Stephens, who scored the lone goal in the game against Garvey Maceo.
Clarendon College came from behind on Wednesday to beat a good Manning’s School team and should make it two in a row when they face Cedric Titus at Manchester High.
Cedric Titus are on a two-game losing skid after losing their second game in the second round and went down to Anchovy High on Tuesday and must get a result today if they are to stay in contention to advance.
Clarendon have won eight games in a row and are gathering steam for what is expected to be a tough latter part of the competition.
The Anchovy High vs Manning’s School game at Rusea’s is expected to be a close one with the latter having their backs against the wall and must win if they are to salvage what has so far been a good season.
Anchovy are in uncharted waters and will come into the game with momentum, especially with the presence of Mark Smith, who has scored in his team’s last three games.
Manning’s School played well in the first half against Clarendon College at Frome but were let down in the second half and if they are to get the win today, must put the loss behind them.
Frome Technical are on a roll and are dark horses in some quarters to get past the semi-finals this season and make a run at a second title and will start favourites over Port Antonio.
Giovanni Mittoo and Devin Johnson got two each on Wednesday and will give the Port Antonio defence a run today.
Dinthill Technical have not looked back since they were awarded points from two first-round games and have won four games by a 7-0 aggregate and will relish a Petersfield High team that was outplayed on Wednesday.
Karim Bryan has been carrying the scoring load for Dinthill Technical and they will be hoping he will be able to hold his current form.
A place in the next round could be riding on the result between McGrath High and B B Coke, two minnows who have overachieved this year.
McGrath High are seeking to prove they are no flash in the pan and after seeing off Rusea’s High in the second round, beating Happy Grove but will face a tougher B B Coke team that is coming off holding STETHS goalless on Tuesday, and will be high on confidence.
Former champions STETHS and Garvey Maceo High will both be seeing to shrug off unexpected results with wins today. STETHS will hope their high-powered scoring machine will be able to get back into high gear against Happy Grove, who managed just eight goals in their first round before scoring four against Annotto Bay in the second round.
Garvey Maceo came out on the wrong side of a 1-0 margin on Tuesday and will hope to atone but could find a confident Maggotty High team hard to get by.
Today’s games
Group One
Clarendon College vs Cedric Titus @ Manchester High @ 3:00 pm
Anchovy High vs Manning’s School @ Rusea’s @ 3:00 pm
Group Two
Cornwall College vs Manchester High @ STETHS @ 3:00 pm
Maggotty High vs Garvey Maceo @ Manchester High @ 1:00 pm
Group Three
Frome Tech vs Port Antonio @ Drax Hall @ 3:00 pm
Dinthill Tech vs Petersfield @ STETHS @ 1:00 pm
Group 4
STETHS vs Happy Grove @ Drax Hall @ 1:00 pm
McGrath High vs B B Coke @ Juici Field @ 3:00 pm