Jamaica College (JC) Head Coach Davion Ferguson says the team’s determination was the key reason for their 2-1 victory over Tivoli Gardens High in the opening game of the quarter-final round double header at Stadium East on Tuesday.

The Old Hope Road-based boys needed to win to keep their hopes of retaining their title alive following their defeat to Hydel last weekend. They got off to a great start as Jayd Johnson put them ahead in the 16th minute. They dominated the first half but Tivoli started the second with a sense of purpose and were rewarded through substitute Dwayne Johnson, who fired home in the 50th.

However, Tivoli faced an uphill task after Romario Haynes was sent off in the 64th minute after receiving a second yellow card.

JC responded immediately as the resulting free kick saw talisman Dyllan John heading home in the 66th minute which turned out to be the winner.

Ferguson praised his team’s mentality, despite not performing up to his standards.

“[We had] the will to win. We weren’t at our best, we had issues; it wouldn’t have been easy. But the will to not lose today was really why we won the game. We weren’t fluent, the performance wasn’t great but the three points was the most important,” he said.

JC move to three points in Group 2 and must beat St George’s College in their final game to automatically secure qualification to the semi-finals.

Tivoli, on the other hand, face elimination after back-to-back defeats which is bittersweet for Head Coach Christopher Nicholas. “We went down to 10 men and that really cost us the game, [but] it’s football,” he said.

Kingston College (KC) have their semi-final destiny in their own hands after a 2-1 win over last season’s beaten finalists St Andrew Technical High (STATHS) in the second game of the double-header.

Jaheim McLean gave the North Street boys the lead with a clinical finish in the 18th minute. However, KC had to weather the storm for the remainder of the game as STATHS pushed for the equaliser.

Their best chance came just before the half-time break as Alexavier Gooden fired a rocket from 40 yards out which hit the underside of the crossbar but the referee ruled that it didn’t cross the line. STATHS continued to push and Gooden struck again in the 84th minute, this time from 30 yards, but KC goalkeeper Malique Williams was able to to keep it out and preserve the three points.

KC Head Coach Vassell Reynolds credited his boys’ conditioning for the result.

“I thought we executed very well, not 100 per cent but what else can you ask for?” he said.

STATHS Head Coach Philip Williams thought his team deserved more from the game.

“It’s just that one moment we switched off and we were punished,” he noted.

KC now lead Group 1 with four points and only need a point against St Catherine to secure passage into the semis. STATHS will need to avoid defeat against Mona if they are to make the last four.