Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

BEN FRANCIS Knockout champions St James High added another pleasing chapter to their quest for the rural double yesterday when they clipped St. Thomas Technical 1-0 in their Group One ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup quarter-final game at York Oval in St. Thomas.

In a game in which they scored early and held on grimly until the final whistle to snatch victory, the St James team got its lone goal through striker Nicoli Barrett, who struck his 20th goal of the season.

Complete mission

"We could not have asked for a better start to the quarter-finals, especially since we had to travel halfway across the island for this game," said Pastor Hugh Solomon, coach of the St James High team. "We are now looking to complete our mission of getting into the semi-finals in our next game."

In the second of the two Group One games, Lennon High erased an early 1-0 deficit to spank Frome Technical 3-1 at the Jamalco Sports Club in Claren-don. By virtue of their win, Lennon and St James High, whom they will meet in a second-round fixture on Tuesday, are joint leaders of the group with three points each.

Over in Group Two, Spalding High, with two goals in time added one, scored a dramatic 3-2 win over eight-time champions Rusea's in their first-round fixture at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS).

After watching Rusea's grab an early first-half, 2-0 lead through goals by Niko Bailey and Godfrey Cunningham, Spalding High bounced back for the breathtaking win through goals from skipper Jevaughn Powell (two) and substitute Wayot Davy.

"We are absolutely delighted because even when we were 2-0 down we still believed we would win the game," said Spalding's coach, Alexander Morgan, noting that his team had never lost a game in which Powell got on the scoresheet. "This is a remarkable win for the team and confidence in the camp is now very high going into our next games."

Fine performance

In the second game in Group Two, St Elizabeth's Lacovia High turned in a fine performance to hold former champions Dinthill to a 2-2 draw at the Spanish Town Prison Oval in St Catherine.

By virtue of the stalemate, Spalding lead Group Two ahead of Lacovia and Dinthill, with a point each.

Rusea's, who are without a point, face must-win situations in their next two games if they hope to advance.

Yesterday's games