Defending champs rally against Irwin

Defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Irwin High in their ISSA daCosta Cup second-round encounter at Irwin yesterday.

Irwin took the lead in the 29th minute through Rajaie Parnell, who dribbled past several defenders before firing home.

However, STETHS responded eight minutes later when Malieke Wellington converted from the penalty spot to level the score.

The defending champions completed the comeback on the stroke of half-time when Shyon George capitalised on a goalkeeping error to score what proved to be the winner.

STETHS Technical Director Neil Harrison said his team was pleased to secure all three points against a challenging opponent.

“We knew it would have been difficult. Both us and Irwin were on three points, so we knew it would have been a very challenging one based on the fact that both of us wanted to go six points,” said Harrison.

“It was a hard-fought game regardless of how the game went. The important thing is that we came away with the three points, and we are very thankful for it,” he added.

Meanwhile, Irwin coach Garnett Lawrence admitted that his team lacked discipline in the opening stages but praised his players for their fighting spirit.

“I think in the first half we weren’t disciplined enough for the first five minutes. However, second half, we really came out and we fought all the way. Unfortunately, we only got one goal, but that wasn’t enough,” he said.

In other matches, Manning’s School and Glenmuir High maintained their perfect records with 2-0 and 9-0 victories over St James High and Ferncourt High, respectively.

Meanwhile, the matches between Frome Technical and Munro College and Brown’s Town High and Cornwall College were postponed because of inclement weather.

Yesterday’s Games

Holmwood 0-3 Magotty

Frome-Munro (postponed)

Old Harbour 7-1 Yallahs

Lacovia High 3-2 Central High

Ferncourt High 0-9 Glenmuir High

Garvey Maceo 2-0 Knox

Denbigh 3-1 Mile Gully

St Mary 1-1 Kemps Hill

McGrath High 6-2 Morant Bay

BB Coke High 1-1 Ocho Rios High

Titchfield High 0-5 Dinthill Technical

Christiana High 4-0 Porus High

Lennon High 0-1 Manchester

Edwin Allen 1-3 Clarendon College

Manning’s 2-0 St James

Rusea’s 3-1 William Knibb

Irwin 1-2 STETHS

Brown’s Town-Cornwall (postponed)