Assistant Coach Dane Peralto praised his players’ professionalism and mentality after Mona High advanced to the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 victory against St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) on Friday at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

Robino Gordon and Denzel McKenzie scored both goals in the first half to propel Mona to the last four. Gordon scored in the seventh minute, and Mckenzie followed suit in the 21st.

McKenzie might have made it 3-0 to Mona, but after going up for the glory shot from the penalty spot, his strike was beautifully saved by STATHS goalkeeper Mark Roberts.

STATHS attempted to score goals of their own, but their attackers could not find a breakthrough. Mona finished atop Group 1 with five points, while STATHS ended at the bottom on three points.

“The performance was excellent,” Peralto told the Jamaica Observer. “I mean, we stuck to a game plan which was to get the goals early and going into the latter part of the game, switching to defensive mood. That was always the game plan.

“The players showed heart — everybody out there giving 110 per cent and that’s all you can ask from the boys. They trained well from the summer and this is what it was. This was the game of their lives; they needed to play and do everything correctly, and I think we did today,” he added.

STATHS Head Coach Philip Williams was left disappointed by the result.

“It was a lacklustre performance from the team in the first half,” he said. “I think we made two mistakes that cost us two goals against a well-motivated team and it was always going to be difficult getting back.

“To exit the competition at this stage, it must be disappointing but we played some good football coming up to the quarter-final round and unfortunately this is our second shutout. We created some chances and so it very disappointing to see us going out this way.”

Kingston College, despite a 1-2 loss against St Catherine in their last Group 1 quarter-final encounter at the Spanish Town Prison Oval, also got to the semi-finals. KC and St Catherine both ended with four points, with the former having a higher goal-difference.

— Ruddy Allen