GARNETT Lawrence, head coach of St Jago High School’s football team, declared that his team came into their Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/Digicel Manning Cup clash against St Catherine High with one thing in mind — and that was to go home with all three points.

So said, so done as 10-player St Jago edged Walker Cup Knockout holders St Catherine 2-1 at the Prison Oval football field on Tuesday.

Marcus Tudor opened the scoring for St Jago in the 22nd minute before Nickyle Ellis equalised from the penalty spot for the St John’s Road-based team in the 45th minute. Lance Lawrence then got the winner for St Jago with a beautiful header in the 50th minute of play.

The win was all the more impressive for St Jago because they ended the match with only 10 players after Captain Javar Harris was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle.

Coach Lawrence said the win has boosted their chances of making it to the next round of competition.

“If we had lost this game we knew that our chances of making it to the second round would have gone, and so we came here to get all three points.

“We made sure that we got everything right as for the entire week we have been training with little rest time. The players went through their paces well and we were confident that we would go home as the winner,” the St Jago coach told the Jamaica Observer.

It was an even start to the match between the St Catherine parish rivals as both displayed free-flowing football. However, as the game progressed St Catherine High began to enjoy more ball possession, which led to some unsuccessful strikes at goal.

But the skilful Tudor put St Jago in front after latching on to a loose ball in the box and firing home.

Tudor could have doubled the score for St Jago but after getting by three defenders his strike rattled the crossbar.

At the other end, St Catherine had a few chances but failed to connect. However, Ellis scored from the penalty spot just before half-time to ensure the teams entered the interval at 1-1.

It was also a ding-dong battle on the resumption but it was St Jago who again went in front after Lance Lawrence headed pass Omarion Brown in the St Catherine goal.

Following many efforts in search of an equaliser St Catherine failed to deliver, and this left the St Jago players and supporters wildly celebrating at the end.