William Knibb, Lacovia sneak into daCosta Cup play-offs
William Knibb Memorial High and Lacovia High just managed to get into the play-offs in their respective groups after contrasting results in Wednesday’s round of matches in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/Wata daCosta Cup football competition.
Only two of the three zones — C and E — requiring play-offs were decided; however, bad weather affected all the games in Zone I, forcing them to be rescheduled to Thursday afternoon with 1:00 pm start times.
William Knibb, who had been fighting the deduction of points from their game against Cedric Titus High, beat York Castle High 2-0 to knock out the St Ann team. William Knibb join Cedric Titus High, Ocho Rios High, and Brown’s Town in the Zone C play-off.
William Knibb finished the first-round schedule on 12 points, one more than York Castle High. Cedric Titus High, who edged Brown’s Town High 1-0, lead the zone with 19 points. Ocho Rios High, who were 4-0 winners over Aabuthnott Gallimore High, finished with 16 points.
Despite their loss, Brown’s Town’s 14 points were enough to see them through to the play-offs.
Lacovia High, who played out a 0-0 result against Munro College, just edged Maggotty High on a tie-breaker after both schools ended on 11 points. Lacovia had the better goal difference of 12 to Maggotty’s 11.
Lacovia join St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), BB Coke, and Munro College in the play-offs.
Othneil Anderson’s goal gave STETHS a 1-0 victory over second-placed BB Coke as both advanced with 19 and 16 points, respectively, while Munro College were next on 12 points.
Nine games, including four from Zone I, will be played on Thursday when former champions Rusea’s High and Frome Technical, who are first and second, respectively, in Zone B, can both secure their places in the second round. Rusea’s are set to face Green Island High in their return fixture, while Frome are to oppose Cambridge High.
Both Rusea’s High, who have won all five games, and Frome Technical, who have played six, are on 15 points. Both will advance if Green Island fail to win.
In the first round, Rusea’s High had edged Green Island 1-0 at home and are expected to take all three points today against a team that has given up 12 goals in their last two games.
Frome Technical struggled in their first game against Cambridge High, just winning 3-2, but after scoring 19 goals in their last three games, their confidence will be high.