Do-or-die for Clarendon College in ISSA/FLOW daCosta Cup

WESTERN BUREAU:

Defending ISSA/FLOW daCosta Cup champions, Clarendon College, are clinging to their cup by the slimmest of threads, knowing that only a victory over Rusea’s High in this afternoon’s quarter-final match at the Juici Field is good enough to save their season.

Only four of six matches are scheduled today with the other two, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) versus The Mannings School at STETHS and Vere Technical up against Marcus Garvey at Wembley set for tomorrow.

The ‘Russians’ are on four points from one victory and a draw in this round of the competition and are matched by Dinthill Technical on points, but boast a one-goal difference  to lead Group S.

Clarendon College sit on three points and cannot lose today if they are to keep their title, at least through to the semi-finals.

In the group’s other fixture, Dinthill will need to avoid defeat to Glenmuir and hope that Rusea’s draw with Clarendon College, if they are to advance ahead of all the others.

It’s all a tricky situation and not dissimilar to what obtains in the other three groups.

It is all even in Group P, with Manchester High, Lacovia High, St James High and Paul Bogle High on three points apiece.

The separation, however, should come after St James host Manchester at Jarrett Park at 3:00 p.m. and Lacovia welcome Paul Bogle to Santa Cruz (at STETHS) in the opening game of a double header.

Group Q is equally poised, with the impressive Petersfield High taking aim at Lennon at Frome Sports Complex, where a win and a draw or loss for either team in the Port Antonio vs Seaforth clash at Carder Park, will see them claim a spot in the last four.

STETHS will tackle Mannings at 3:00 pm in their Group R encounter tomorrow, while Vere Technical could still advance with a win over Marcus Garvey and enough goals to add to a loss for STETHS.

“We are a confident set of people at STETHS, the players have been through a lot so far this year but are ready,” said STETHS coach Omar Wedderburn.

“It continues to be work in progress and we look forward to the Mannings game, because as I told my players, each team is in it to win it. We must want it more than the others,” Wedderburn said firmly.

Today’s matches

Lacovia vs Paul Bogle at STETHS
St James vs Manchester at Jarrett Park
Petersfield vs Lennon at Frome Sports Complex
Port Antonio v Seaforth at Carder Park
Clarendon College vs Rusea’s at Juice Field
Glenmuir vs Dinthill at Juice Field
All matches start at 3:00 pm, except the Juice Field double-header, which begins at 1:00 p.m.