McGrath High upset STETHS in Ben Francis Cup semis
MANCHESTER, Jamaica— McGrath High shocked six- time champions St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) to advance to the final of the ISSA Ben Francis Cup competition after winning Wednesday’s semi-final at Manchester High by a 2-1 margin.
Devon Davis scored the most important goal in McGrath High’s history when he broke the 1-1 tie in the 80th minute and into their first- ever final at this level.
In the final, McGrath High will face 2006 champions Frome Technical, who hammered another first-time semi-finalists Happy Grove High, 4-0 in their game at Glenmuir High with Stevaughn Spence scoring a hat- trick.
Deandre Anderson gave McGrath High the lead in the 29th minute of their game but Abena Wallace drew STETHS level just before half time, in the 44th minute.
Davis scored the winner in the 80th minute to send his team to their first ever final.
At Glenmuir High, Uriel Lemphard gave Frome Technical the lead in the 11th minute when Happy Grove High’s goalkeeper Shadane McLeod misplayed a cross from the right and the ball fell to the Frome Tech central defender to tap in from less than a yard at the back post.
Spence, who has scored 25 goals this season, got his first in the 14th minute when he steered a header from a cross from Dwayne Watt past McLeod.
Despite being forced to make an early substitution when Kemroy Brown suffered a head injury mid-way the first half, Frome Technical were in control but had to wait until the 60th minute when Spence was on the receiving end of a cross that beat the Happy Grove defense and scored for about two yards out.
Happy Grove had their best chance to score in the 68th minute when Frome Technical’s goalkeeper Oral Davis ventured out of his area and was beaten, but quick reaction from the defenders cut off the shot just before it got to the goal line.
Spence completed his hat-trick in the 73rd minute when he finished off a swift move by his team by heading a lofted pass from Lemphard over the head of the advancing McLeod and two teammates into the unprotected goal.
Results from today’s game:
STETHS 1, McGrath High 2
Happy Grove High-0, Frome Tech- 4
