DaCosta Cup title hangs in balance

WESTERN BUREAU:

With their foray into the LIME Super Cup done and dusted, reigning daCosta Cup champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) will resume their defence in a must-win game at their Santa Cruz home field against surprise quarter-final Zone R leaders, Petersfield High, in a 3 p.m. clash that will decide a semi-final qualifier.

Only a victory will do for the defending champions, as both teams have six points from winning their first two inter-zone matches.

STETHS brushed aside St James 2-0, a week ago, but must now beat the rapidly improving Petersfield High, who proved, in their 9-1 humiliation of Cedric Titus, that they too have the raw material in place to move forward.

The massive win has given Petersfield the edge in goal difference, plus-eight, to STETHS' plus-six.

ready and confident

Victory for Petersfield is not a distant thought for coach Delroy Delisser, as his players, led by captain and midfield boss, Akeem Whyte, have taken care of business so far.

"We have a mission that is yet to be accomplished and all the players are aware of this, so a game against STETHS will be just like the others, very important and a must-win for us," he said.

"Hard work, dedication and competence, in all areas, are our motto and, while they need to win to advance ahead of us, we know that we also need to win, or at least earn a draw, to eliminate the defending champions.

"This is our big moment and we are ready, and confident, we will achieve our goal with a win," declared Delisser.

Whyte, who the coach described as the best schoolboy midfielder in the country, is a man among boys, as demonstrated by his abilities in leading Petersfield, coupled with his penchant for scoring goals. He netted two against Cedric Titus, 10 so far this season. Additionally, he also creates goals for others such as Lushane Assian and Malike Reid.

For STETHS, big central defender Rushane McClymont impresses with every game and he, too, can score.

However, it is the 20-goal man, Donjay Smith, who Wedderburn will be looking to bang in the goals, as his goals-per-game ratio heads the competition.

Another key match-up this afternoon pits two former winners - Clarendon College and Frome Technical - at the Juici Field in a

3 p.m. encounter.

Clarendon lead Zone S on six points, but Frome (four) will advance if they win and move their tally to seven.

It is not that complicated in Zone P, with leaders Glenmuir (six) needing only a point in their match against out-of-contention Old Harbour to secure a semi-final spot. In Zone Q, Dinthill Technical must secure at least one point to qualify for the semis at the expense of Godfrey Stewart High, who meet already-eliminated Manchester High in a must-win situation at Frome Sports Complex.