What a clash! .. STETHS, Munro lock horns in big D'Cup showdown

Western Bureau

While there will be a number of high stakes ISSA/Flow daCosta Cup matches set for this afternoon, few, if any will carry interests as the Zone E derby featuring St. Elizabeth Technical and Munro College in Santa Cruz is promising to do. 

Over the years, this match-up has taken on a significance that has transcended a mere football spectacle and is arguably the competition’s biggest rivalry, even laying down a challenge towards the Cornwall College/Rusea’s derby at its heights in the 90’s or the Clarendon College/Vere Technical one-two punch of the eighties.

STETHS has been the more successful in recent years obviously but Munro and its supporters still pride itself as the standard by which all others should be judged in St. Elizabeth and so will not go quietly and cede STETHS the throne.

When they meet this afternoon, several intangibles will be in play. Namely, STETHS, who are first in the zone on goal difference over Lacovia (both have 9 points), will be on familiar home turf in Santa Cruz and will be backed by their band of rabid supporters.

Striker Wright out

STETHS will also be taking the field without one of their most lethal strikers in Romeo Wright, who suffered a broken leg in a recent match against Maggotty.

The defending champions will still be smarting from that shock 1-0 loss to Lacovia on Thursday.

Munro, meanwhile, third in the zone with 8 points, on the other hand, has been getting more than satisfactory results recently to include a strong fight back to secure a draw against Maggotty. The Lance Morgan-coached Munro then slapped a solid 6-1 spanking on Black River in preparation for today’s derby.

“We are aiming to top the zone. We haven’t done so in a number of years, but we like our chances this time around against STETHS,” Morgan told the Gleaner.

“I am expecting a humdinger of a contest in Santa Cruz. Two of the best teams in the zone and more a Munro versus STETHS is always going to be an exciting affair. It should be interesting,” Morgan said.

And it is promising that and much more. As STETHS coach Omar Wedderburn stated, his team will be taking the attack to Munro.

“All our frustration will be taken out on this Munro team. We lost against Lacovia and while it’s not really a setback, we want some form of revenge and so it is that we meet Munro next,” reasoned Wedderburn.

Another hot-button match-up is in Zone A, where St. James high will tackle Cornwall College. Both teams are locked on maximum 12 points from four matches and have looked impressive doing so.

Other interesting matches pit Zone E contenders Newell (5pts) against a Lacovia side still on cloud nine, after their first victory over STETHS in eight years on Thursday to join the champions on 9 points, while Manchester and Mile Gully will provide serious goal-mouth action in their top-of-the-table Zone F clash.

In Zone K, Dinthill (12 points) and Ewarton (9pts) will also be of keen interest, as they continue setting the pace in that zone.

Today’s matches

McGrath vs. Guys Hill

Green Pond vs. Anchovy

Maldon vs. Irwin

St. James vs. Cornwall College

Rusea’s vs. Knockalva

Cedric Titus vs. Muschett

William Knibb vs. Herbert Morrison

Maud McLeod vs. Petersfield

Godfrey Stewart vs. Grange Hill

Newell vs. Lacovia

STETHS vs. Munro

Manchester vs. Mile Gully

BB Coke vs. deCarteret

York Castle vs. Browns Town

A Gallimore vs. Ocho Rios

Steer Town vs. Marcus Garvey

Ewarton vs. Dinthill

Fair Prospect vs. Port Antonio

Garvey Maceo vs. Denbigh

Glenmiur vs. Winston Jones

Vere vs. Bustamante

Kemps Hill vs.  Tacius Golding

Central High vs. Old Harbour

Paul Bogle vs. Morant Bay

Robert Lightbourne vs. St Thomas Tech

Seaforth vs. Yallahs

Titchfield vs. Happy Grove