Herbert coach upbeat despite d’Cup exit

Western Bureau:

Two-time ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup champions Herbert Morrison Technical High School were eliminated from the competition after a 3-1 loss to hosts William Knibb Memorial High School, who advanced, yesterday.

After a lacklustre first half, William Knibb talisman Christojaye Daley gave the hosts the lead with a brilliant free kick in the 57th minute.

Herbert Morrison were handed a chance of a comeback in the 73rd minute when William Knibb defenders failed to clear a scrappy ball in the box that Camarca Brown poked into their net to pull the game level.

William Knibb were determined to take all three points, and Daley made sure of that, dribbling past four defenders in the 80th minute to net his second goal of the match and 14th in eight games. Substitute Nicardo Lawrence put the icing on the cake for the hosts, latching on to a brilliant through pass from Deano Thomas that left him one on one with the goalkeeper, whom he beat at the near post.

Despite their elimination, Herbert Morrison interim head coach Garfield Anderson commends his team’s performance, saying they stood up to a better team on the day. He replaced Leacroft Lettman, who resigned midway the first round, and now says he is looking forward to next season, if the school allows him to continue in the role.

“I have to applaud the youngsters,” he said. “We took this team midstream, and the way they responded, for us to even have a chance [of advancing while] playing the last game of the preliminary round is just tremendous effort. We just lost to a better team today.

“The future, however, looks bright for us. We just have to keep these youngsters’ heads up high and build on it for next season. I’m looking forward to being a part of this if given the opportunity next year. Herbert Morrison is where it all began for me. In 1986, I was there as a daCosta Cup champion, and we want to reignite that energy,” he added.

Pleased with performance

William Knibb head coach Dwight Jeremiah, who is looking forward to the second round, said that he was pleased with the performance of his bench.

“A lot of persons were thinking the six changes we made were to favour ‘Compre’ (Herbert Morrison),” he said.

“But I’m just looking out for my team. If we are to make a deep run in this competition, I cannot do it with 11 players. I have to know who I can trust in the next round, and today, a lot of persons put their hands up.

“However, what I am happy to also see is that other persons are getting on the scoresheet. We had two different scorers in the last game, and today, another toward came off the bench to score.”