Lacovia High surprise STETHS

Western Bureau

St Elizabeth Technical High School central defender Clifton Woodbine had a spectacular game for the defending ISSA-FLOW daCosta Cup defending champions, however, his outstanding performance could not deny Lacovia High a fine victory in their Zone E clash yesterday.

It took a deflected Devon Mullings' shot from outside the area in the 90th minute to separate the teams.

The win, their first against STETHS since 2008, was masterminded by their coach Fitzroy Ambersley, who told The Gleaner the victory was needed to shake things in a zone usually dominated by the champions and Munro College, who swamped Black River 6-1.

They now join STETHS atop the zone with nine points from four matches, making tomorrow's big derby between STETHS and Munro a lot more interesting. Munro are third with eight points. They remain the only team in the zone without a defeat.

BETTER THAN BEFORE

"In preseason, we took the players to Arnett Gardens to get a feel of what champions should look like. They soaked all that in and since then, they have played each game even better than the one before," Ambersley said.

"This win is a fine one. A very good filip for the players; they deserve it and I feel a statement has been made today," Ambersley explained.

Playing at the Lacovia Community Centre field, the hosts looked sharper than the usually confident STETHS team with their midfield breaking up several of STETHS' forward moves.

STETHS were without bustling forward Romeo Wright, but had Javoney Brown leading the attack alongside Demar James, but it was central defender Woodbine who looked the part.

His rasping free-kick in the 78th minute struck the crossbar and Brown's shot from an acute angle hit the upright as STETHS went in search of victory.

It was not to be, as Mullings got in a shot that took a wicked deflection to loop over STETHS goalkeeper Kenroy Wallace sparking jubilation among the Lacovia crowd.

Three matches will be played today: Black River vs Maggotty; Cross Keys vs Belair, and Bog Walk vs Charlemont.

Yesterday's results

Lacovia 1 STETHS 0

Black River 1 Munro 6

Maggotty 2 Newell 2

Mile Gully 2 BB Coke 0

Lennon 2 Edwin Allen 0

Thompson Town 0 Clarendon College 1

Godfrey Stewart 5 Maud McLoed 1

Ocho Rios 2 York Castle 0

Titchfield 3 Oracabessa 1

Happy Grove 1 Port Antonio 2