Hyde hails CC’s character - Defending champs retain d’Cup title after comfortable win over Dinthill

Technical Director Lenworth ‘Lenny’ Hyde was full of praise for his Clarendon College (CC) team, highlighting their character, after they successfully defended their ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup title, with a 3-0 win over Dinthill Technical at the Montego Bay Sports Complex yesterday.

Clarendon, easily the best team in the rural area competition and perhaps the best in the country, produced a second half onslaught to break the resolve of a Dinthill Technical team, that made the most of a fortuitous situation to push their way to the final, where they were hoping to win their third title and first since 1981.

“It’s a great feeling. We didn’t start out well, you know teams plan for us. They came with all sorts of walls and barricades to stop us, but we kept our calm,” said Hyde.

“We know the system we came to play, so we put down the ball and moved it around like we did in the second half to win. I lift my hat to them, as the fought gallantly and showed character of true champions,” Hyde said of his boys.

Captain Earl Simpson, Andre Nicholson, and Tajhay Williams got the goals for the Chapelton-based school, which was claiming their ninth daCosta Cup crown.

This is also the third time that CC are winning back-to-back daCosta Cup titles, after first achieving the feat in the 1977/1978 seasons and again in the 1996 and 1998 seasons. There was no competition in 1997.

Late breakthrough

After an eventful but goalless first half, CC took the lead 10 minutes after the break.

Simpson, the towering central defender, was without company as he rose high in the box to meet a looping cross from the left, cushioning his header to the right of the Dinthill custodian to give the champions a deserved lead in the 54th minute.

The goal seemed to push Clarendon into an extra gear, as they found their rhythm and suddenly, the slick-passing style that had caught the eye all season was on full display, as Dinthill’s players struggled to get a foot into the game.

In fact, instead of mounting a fightback, Dinthill would end up gifting a second goal to CC as substitute Nicholson found the net in the 81st minute after Dinthill lost possession in a dangerous area.

If that was a gift, Williams would tie the bow in the second minute of stoppage time for the defending champions, slotting home a low cross from a David Chambers pull back from to goal line, as Clarendon ensured that the trophy will remain in Chapelton for another year.

Still, it was a positive season for the Xavier Gilbert-coached Dinthill team, which won seven games on the trot after they were helped from the First Round, following a boardroom decision that saw them picking up points from Charlemont, who had used an ineligible player.

Gilbert expressed pride after his team’s efforts.

“I think we got a little indisciplined,” said Gilbert. “Once they went up 1-0, we were always chasing the game. Our game plan worked to some extent. However, I am proud of my boys for what they did the entire season and I commend them.”

Meanwhile, Clarendon College, who were bouncing back from last week’s Champions Cup defeat to Kingston College, will now turn their attention to their Olivier Shield meeting with urban area champions Jamaica College.