Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

SPALDINGS HIGH moved to within a point of making their first ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup semi-final yesterday when they spanked Lacovia High 2-0 to take sole leadership of Group Two in the quarter-final round.

In a game reminiscent of their second-half performance in their first-round 3-2 win against Rusea's, Spaldings struck twice in the second half through Andre Salmon and Kevon Moore to jump to maximum six points and send the enterprising Lacovia out of contention.

"It was another good per-formance from the team today and we are extremely pleased with the result," said Alexander Morgan, the coach of the Spaldings team. "It is now for us just to get our next game out of the way and move into the semi-finals."

Back in contention

Rusea's, who fell prey to Spaldings last Saturday, bounced back into contention for the second of the Group Two semi-final places yesterday when they turned in a command performance to bounce back from a first half 1-0 deficit to clobber Dinthill Technical 4-1 and move into second place with three points.

Roydel Moncrieffe (two), skipper Domaine Thompson and Tremaine Perry were the players on target for the Anthony 'Follies' Williams-coached Rusea's, who missed several chances in the final 15 minutes of the game.

"I must praise the boys for an outstanding performance today because they were really up against it at halftime but never gave up," said Williams. "Come Saturday, we just need to win against Lacovia and we should be okay."

Well-deserved score

In the big Group One top-of-the-table clash between Ben Francis KO kingpins St James High and Lennon, which was played in pouring rain, the teams played well in the conditions and the point each got in the final 0-0 scoreline was well deserved.

"The conditions did not suit our style of play but we did well enough to get a valuable point," said Pastor Hugh Solomon, the St James High coach. "We just need to get a point out of our game against Frome on Saturday and we will be in the semi-finals."

Lennon's coach, Merron Gordon, said: "Under the conditions, both teams played well but I believe we should have won the game nonetheless. We now face a situation where we must win our final game."

St Thomas Technical moved back into contention in Group One when they brushed aside 2003 champions Frome Technical 2-0 to put themselves within a point of joint leaders St James High and Lennon, who are both on four points.

After playing out a first half 0-0 scoreline, St Thomas snatched victory in the second half through Keniel Dennis and Loghate Duncan to secure their first three points of the round.

Yesterday's results

Group One: St James 0 Lennon High 0,

St Thomas Technical 2 Frome 0.

Group Two: Spalding 2 Lacovia 0, Rusea's 4 Dinthill 1.