Big guns through to semis
published:
Thursday | November 29, 2007
Adrian Frater, News Editor
Cornwall College captain Edward Campbell (right) gets around Davian McKenzie of Fair Prospect in yesterday's daCosta Cup quarter-final at the Elleston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth yesterday. Cornwall College won 2-0. - photo by Richard Morais
WESTERN BUREAU:
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Glenmuir, Ben Francis Knockout champions Garvey Maceo, the competition's most successful team, Cornwall College, and the team of the '80s, Rusea's, captured the four semi-final places in the daCosta Cup following yesterday's final round of quarter-final games.
Glenmuir, who needed just a draw against Munro College in the feature game of the St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) double-header, were given a major scare when they found themselves trailing 2-0 with 20 minutes to go and Munro looking like going all the way.
However, the Jackie Walters-coached Glenmuir boys dug deep and rallied back strongly to secure an all-important 2-2 draw, courtesy of goals by substitute Drion McNain and James Thomas, which was enough to send them into the semi-finals as second-place finisher in Group Two behind Rusea's."We never panicked, we always believed we could get back into the game," said Walters. "Once we were able to assess what was happening out there, we knew we could make the required adjustments," he said.
Cornwall College, who needed only a draw against Fair Prospect in their Group One game at the Elletson Wakeland Centre in Falmouth, completed their task in fine style as they came away impressive 2-0 winners courtesy of goals by Oraine Lewis and the prolific Radcliffe Hall, which resulted in them topping the group.
We get the job done
"We came here knowing what we had to do and we got the job done so it is all credit to the boys," said Cornwall College coach Dr. Dean Weatherly. "We are now going to put this win behind us and start making the required tactical preparations for the semi-finals," Weatherly said.
Garvey Maceo, who have been looking somewhat jaded in recent games, secured their place in the final four by taking the point they needed from Manchester High in their Group One game at the Jamalco Sports Club.
By virtue of taking one just point from the game, which ended 0-0, Jeffrey Hewitt-coached Garvey Maceo finished a runners-up to Cornwall College in Group One.
We played a tactically sound game today, the only problem is that we failed to convert the chance we got," said Hewitt. "We are now heading back to the drawingboard to prepare for our semi-final assignment."
Rusea's, whose survival depended on getting at least one point from their match-up against Clarendon College, turned in a gutsy performance to register a come-from-behind 3-1 win, which also resulted in them topping Group Two. Damain Thompson (penalty), Roydel Moncrieffe and substitute Oshane Parnell got the goals for Rusea's.
"We came here determined that we would not be leaving without all three points, so even when we fell behind, we were still confident," said Rusea's coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams. "This result is what we expected."
