The Classics
Vere Technical's star player leads them to victory
Published:Friday | November 22, 2024 | 5:49 AM
In a thrilling encounter before thousands of passionate fans, Vere Technical High School emerged victorious over Cornwall College with a 2-1 win on November 24, 1976, securing their eighth daCosta Cup title with a 3-1 aggregate score. The match was anything but easy as Cornwall dominated the first half, with Eric White setting up Anthony Christie for a stunning opening goal. However, Vere, led by star player Andred Andrews, mounted a brilliant comeback in the second half. Andrews, who had a key role in both goals, was pivotal in breaking through Cornwall's defence, helping to level the score before Norman Martin sealed the win with a powerful strike.
Published Thursday, November 25, 1976
Vere keep daCosta Cup
- Cornwall beaten 2-1
- Oliver Shield next?
By Barry Hendricks
Before thousands of cheering fans, Vere Technical High School came from behind to beat Cornwall College 2-1 and retain the daCosta football Cup by a 3-1 goal aggregate at Vere on November 24, 1976.
Vere had won the first leg 1-0 on Saturday last in Montego Bay.
It was the defending champions eighth lien on the coveted cup, which they first won in 1965.
But yesterday was not an easy passage for them. Cornwall took control of the game and dominated virtually the entire first half, several times running through the defence of the unsettled Vere.
The Cornwall defence was using the off-side tactics quite regularly, and this offset the Vere forwards in their effort to stamp home their superiority.
Cornwall lead
In the tenth minute of play, Cornwall’s striker, Eric White, hotly pursued by two defenders on the right wing, feinted his way out of a spot and switched play to a virtually unmarked Anthony Christie in the centre, who wasted no time in pouncing on the glorious opportunity and blasting the ball past the underside of the cross bar for the pigeon hole. The shot was taken from just about the penalty spot.
Vere replied with some hard but not so accurate shots, most of which were taken from outside the area, for it was difficult to get through the defence of Michael Simms, Michael Harriott, and David Pinnock.
Cornwall’s goalkeeper, Gilbert McPherson, was in fine form, competently handling the shots that came to him.
The losers came perilously close to going two up when Peter Ridgeway missed a sitter trying to push the ball through the goalkeeper, Christopher Maxwell, instead of around him. Maxwell threw himself to the ground as if slide tackling and trapped the ball between his legs right on halftime whistle.
- Oliver Shield next?
By Barry Hendricks
Before thousands of cheering fans, Vere Technical High School came from behind to beat Cornwall College 2-1 and retain the daCosta football Cup by a 3-1 goal aggregate at Vere on November 24, 1976.
Vere had won the first leg 1-0 on Saturday last in Montego Bay.
It was the defending champions eighth lien on the coveted cup, which they first won in 1965.
But yesterday was not an easy passage for them. Cornwall took control of the game and dominated virtually the entire first half, several times running through the defence of the unsettled Vere.
The Cornwall defence was using the off-side tactics quite regularly, and this offset the Vere forwards in their effort to stamp home their superiority.
Cornwall lead
In the tenth minute of play, Cornwall’s striker, Eric White, hotly pursued by two defenders on the right wing, feinted his way out of a spot and switched play to a virtually unmarked Anthony Christie in the centre, who wasted no time in pouncing on the glorious opportunity and blasting the ball past the underside of the cross bar for the pigeon hole. The shot was taken from just about the penalty spot.
Vere replied with some hard but not so accurate shots, most of which were taken from outside the area, for it was difficult to get through the defence of Michael Simms, Michael Harriott, and David Pinnock.
Cornwall’s goalkeeper, Gilbert McPherson, was in fine form, competently handling the shots that came to him.
The losers came perilously close to going two up when Peter Ridgeway missed a sitter trying to push the ball through the goalkeeper, Christopher Maxwell, instead of around him. Maxwell threw himself to the ground as if slide tackling and trapped the ball between his legs right on halftime whistle.
Cornwall continued to use the off side tactics on the resumption, but gradually, Vere got used to the trap, and when Andred Andrews, in a slight mix-up in front of the goal, beat McPherson all ends up, the spectators, almost totally silent up too this point, came alive.
The game took an exciting turn, and Orville “Super sub” Smith brought into to replace Clove Spencer was interchanging well with Andrews and Paul Hayden, who returned from a one-match suspension.
The Cornwall defence, which was so firm throughout the first half, wilted under devastating pressure of combinations, and shots came from all directions.
Soon, Andrews again broke away from two defenders, switched play to Norman Martin, and as the frantic Cornwall back four made desperate efforts to clear the ball, Martin slammed a foot into it 2-1.
There was no stopping Vere now. They took over, and led by Andrews, they were having a “ball” with the ball seeking a ‘brawta’. During this time, Maxwell just managed to hold on to a free kick awarded just outside the area.
Vere are now set to meet Manning Cup champions Tivoli for the island’s top soccer prize – the Oliver Shield.
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