Cornwall continue ominous march towards D'Cup title

Western Bureau

A rampant Cornwall College steamrolled their way past Manchester High on their way to a 5-2 victory in the first game of a double-header at Jarrett Park yesterday, securing a semi-final berth in the 2016 ISSA/Flow daCosta Cup, while going unbeaten in the process.

Lennon High secured their place also, after edging Rusea's 1-0 in the second match.

It also means the Dr Dean Weatherly-coached team qualifies for the Ben Francis Knockout competition, where they are likely to face familiar foe in Clarendon College.

Defending daCosta and Ben Francis Cup champions, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) also advanced after stopping Petersfield 2-0 in Santa Cruz to top Zone R with maximum nine points

At Jarrett Park, it took them little time to get cracking, when central defender Pagiel Brown scored easily from close range in the 7th minute, after the Manchester defenders failed to clear on several attempts.

Brown would add a second on the brink of half time, when he provided the simplest of finishes to make the score 2-0.

It was Manchester's time to pounce, and they did with pleasure in the 50th minute. Damani Henderson cracked a powerful shot that ricochet off the underside of the crossbar and into the goal to slice the lead in half.

That was as close as it got for Manchester, as Cornwall went all out for more goals, adding a third in the 68th minute through their talismanic forward Jourdaine Fletcher, who in spite not having one of his better matches, manage to find the back of the net.

Fletcher was brought down inside the area by Manchester goalkeeper Odane Reid. He then stroked home the resulting penalty kick for his 27th goal in all competitions so far this season.

Shavon McDonald in the 71st and Dwayne Harding in minute 79 rounded off the scoring for Cornwall College. Ajay Chin netted Manchester's second goal in the 78th.

PAID OFF

"I feel that we can do it all this season," said a confident Fletcher, "We want all four titles, so being in the semi-finals of the daCosta Cup is a great feeling," He added.

"Today we played hard football and it paid off. I am just enjoying the football right now, and I know that we have enough quality to win each time we play," stated Fletcher.

Cornwall is on a sixteen game winning streak in the daCosta Cup and have successfully negotiated three games in the Flow Super Cup to reach Saturday's final against Wolmer's.

Meanwhile, Tavis Grant was on target for Lennon in their 1-0 win over Rusea's to win Zone Q with 9 points.

Elsewhere, despite going down 1-2 to a plucky Spot Valley in Zone S, Clarendon College advanced on goal difference over Little London, who defeated Steer Town 3-1 to end their promising season on a high note.

The four semi-finalists and Ben Francis hopefuls are Cornwall College, STETHS, Lennon and Clarendon College.

Yesterday's results

STETHS 2, Petersfield 0

Clarendon College 1, Spot Valley 2

Little London 3, Steer Town 1

Vere Tech 2, Fair Prospect 0

Dinthill 2, Paul Bogle 2

Ocho Rios 1, Glenmuir 1

Lennon 1, Rusea's 0

Cornwall 5, Manchester 2