William Knibb’s DaCosta Cup head coach Dewight Jeremiah hailed as “massive”, his team’s 1-0 win over many-time champions Cornwall College in their round of 16 contest in the ISSA/WATA DaCosta Cup at the Drax Hall stadium on Tuesday.

It was their second win in as many games in the round and has virtually assured them of a spot in the quarterfinals of the competition.

“It’s massive! When you win your first game in this round you can’t qualify, but you give yourself a very good opportunity. The second game in this round is the most crucial and what you do in this game is critical,” Jeremiah said.

The winning goal came in the early stages of the contest and Jeremiah believes that the “new” tactical approach is what afforded his team the vital win.

“I think we surprised Cornwall (College) with a tactical change, and they weren’t ready for it. I knew at this stage they were expecting something else, and I think once we hit them early with that change before they could adjust, we were well in the driver’s seat.

“(Then) we could revert to what we have done all season long, which is to be very well organised, very good and solid defensively,” he explained.

“Even when half chances are created, we are determined to get our bodies on the line and today (Tuesday), we did that,” he continued.

When asked to explain what precisely the tactical adjustments were made against Cornwall College, Jeremiah was coy in his response.

“I think I want to use it again. Others will see it, but I won’t clearly state it. If they want to watch the game and see it, but yeah, there was something that surprised. I think if you asked Cornwall, they could tell you. If they don’t, then I know it is still a secret or they didn’t detect it,” he mused.

After 12 games played, William Knibb remains the only team yet to concede a goal in all of schoolboy football this season and Jeremiah understands just how massive that achievement has been to date.

“I think it’s immense. You don’t normally get schoolboy footballers to actually work that hard defensively and I think the boys are as equally enthused to score a goal as they are to keep a clean sheet.”

Jeremiah mentioned receiving a text message from a Manning Cup winning coach, which was well received by him.

“I got a very good text message from a friend of mine, Neville Bell, a few days ago and he said, coach you are doing an amazing job at William Knibb. To not concede a goal at this stage in a tournament after so many games, it has to be special.”

Jeremiah says that people have tried to downplay the defensive achievements of his team but believes that the clean sheet against the pedigreed Cornwall College now rubbishes all arguments being put forward.

“Some people try and hit it down because they say you play weak teams. Many persons say this is the true test, Cornwall College, at this stage of the tournament.

“We know there are bigger tests out there, but we want to be better than the team that we play on the day, that’s my mantra, that’s my philosophy this season.

“I just wanted to be better than Cornwall, now my attention turns, can I be better than Dinthill come Friday? That’s all I will be thinking about,” he said in conclusion.

William Knibb will tackle Dinthill Technical for group honours at Drax Hall starting at 3:00pm Friday.