St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) advanced to the semi-finals of the ISSA Manning Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Vauxhall High at Waterhouse Stadium on Friday.

STATHS, who need only a draw to book their spot, got the winner from substitute Zaheim Clarke after a penetrating run from Keeno Levy down the right flank in the 77th minute.

The Philip Williams-coached boys from Bumper Hall were making a return to the top four after missing out last season.

STATHS are perennially into the semis and having lost in the Manning Cup final on three recent occasions to Jamaica College (JC), the dream is on for them to finally get it right.

STATHS, who finished second in Zone B, could face old rivals JC in the semis.

“We know where we [have fallen] short and it’s about holding our nerves at the right time when the moments present themselves,” Williams said in reference to the possible mega clash.

“In the games that we have lost, we haven’t been outplayed tactically or technically, so mentally we have to work on the guys and see where it takes us,” he pointed out.

“The result [against Vauxhall] is what we wanted. We are now in the semi-final is what we had planned for. We just plan going ahead,” Williams added.

The fairy-tale Manning Cup run of Vauxhall is at an end, the east Kingston-based school reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in its history.

They fought hard and young coach Kyle Butler said he was proud of the boys as their season is not over as yet, having the Walker Cup to contest.

“We fought well. I felt like we deserved more. We knew we had to come to this game and get a win, but numbers forward we run the risk at the back,” said Butler.

“STATHS is a great team, I really wish it was them and us in the semi-finals but respect to them,” Butler pointed out.

It was a game of a lot of missed chances and the onus was on Vauxhall as they needed a win.

But it was STATHS who got the majority of the chances and were deserved winners in the end.

Meanwhile, Eltham High confirmed themselves as group winners, edging Calabar High 2-1 at the Ashenheim Stadium to be perfect with three wins from as many games for maximum nine points.

While Eltham and STATHS are into the semis, Vauxhall and Calabar have dropped into the Walker Cup, joining defending champions Mona High, Kingston College, St Catherine High, Tivoli Gardens High and Hydel High.

Either Charlie Smith of Excelsior will complete the final eight when they meet this afternoon in a crucial Zone A encounter.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS
STATHS 1, Vauxhall 0
Eltham 2, Calabar 1

SATURDAY’S GAME
3:00 pm — Excelsior vs Charlie Smith @ Excelsior High
3:00 pm — JC vs Hydel @ Ashenheim Stadium