Anchovy show character in close win over St James

A last-minute goal clinched a 2-1 victory for Anchovy High School over former champions St James High School in their Group A match of the ISSA/WATA DaCosta Cup at Jarrett Park on Wednesday.

The win saw Anchovy remain level on 17 points with leaders Cornwall College, who defeated Irwin 6-0 in their game at home, to boast a superior goal difference at the top of group A. Second and third place in the group is occupied by Green Pond High and St James, both on 13 points, with Green Pond having a better goal difference.

After being let down by poor finishing in the first half, Renaldo Grant gave Anchovy the lead in the 64th minute. Anchovy played well defensively to hold on to the slender one-goal lead until the 89th minute when a hand ball in the box rewarded the hosts with a penalty. Alex Forbes slotted home to level in hope of at least a point from the game. However, the visitors were having none of it as Mark Smith followed up his run. His own rebounded shot saved by the St James goalkeeper gave Anchovy all three points in the second minute of three in stoppage time.

Hector Wright, coach of Anchovy High, was delighted by the character his team showed in getting the three points and their second win over the former champions this season, to put them in a strong position for a second-round spot.

"They have been showing a lot of character from the start of the season," Wright said. "We probably should have gone two or three goals up from the first half, however, in the latter part of the game, they really showed some character and that is what matters most, us getting the three points.

"The depth of the team is what brought us through. We have players who can come off the bench and make a difference. I think those two or three changes in the second half made the difference at the end of the game. As long as we can continue like this the sky is the limit," he added.

Wright outlined that their focus is on a win on Saturday, which should be enough to get them into the second round.

"We just have to go back to the drawing board," he said. "As you could see, towards the end of the games there were a lot of cramps so I'm going to give the guys a break tomorrow (today), and Friday we go back to training. With the rest, they should be back up on their feet to go again on Saturday against Irwin.

"As I always tell the guys, we want to take it one game at a time. Come Saturday, a win and getting those three points from Irwin should put us in the driver's seat. We have been sitting there, so I think we can start the car now to go forward."