All square in heated Cedric Titus-York Castle clash

A SCRAPPY, heated Zone C top-of-the-table ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup clash between Cedric Titus High and York Castle ended 2-2 at the York Castle Sports Complex in St Ann yesterday.

York Castle had goals from Tereke Thompson in the seventh minute, and Revaldo Carter in the 58th, while Cedric Titus struck back through Terron Eccleston in the 80th and Christopher Walters in the 87th.

The game seemed headed York Castle’s way until the last 10 minutes when they let a two-goal lead slip.

In fact, York Castle went onto the front foot early in the encounter, Thompson finding room inside the area to slot the ball past Cedric Titus custodian, Anthony Gaynor.

Cedric Titus looked to get back into the game but even with an injured Kamani Campbell in goal, nothing would go their way.

Lightning forced the game to stop minutes before the half ended, breaking the momentum of the game.

At the restart, York Castle were back at it again, this time through Carter, who confused his marker and goalkeeper to double his team’s lead.

With the game seemingly in their hands, things went pear-shaped for York Castle as Eccleston halved the deficit.

In the 87th minute, Walters left a dagger in the hearts of the York Castle faithful, curling a free kick into the net to leave the scores all square.

LACK OF URGENCY

York Castle coach Valnie Clarke blamed a lack of urgency for the loss of two points.

“The kids, they are learning, they have been very good so far this season. We have not been able to field the same twice, not because we didn’t want to, but because we haven’t been able to. These boys have always on the edge,” Clarke said.

“I am confident that if our goalkeeper, who has been huge for us all season, had he not been injured, it would have been a different sort of game. We were a little bit nervous and over zealousness cost us the game,” he added.

St Derrick Pryce, coach of Cedric Titus, said the team fell asleep in the game.

“The team didn’t follow instructions. They went out there and maybe it is the adrenaline rush and played how they wanted to. I warned them about that before the game started and that’s exactly what took place,” Pryce explained.

“They fought hard to get back into the game. The lightning broke our momentum seriously coming into the second half. We changed a few things in the last few minutes and I believe that’s when they followed instructions.”

Cedric Titus remains atop the zone with 13 points, while York Castle have been overtaken by William Knibb and Ocho Rios, who both won today. William Knibb and Ocho Rios are on 12 points with the former having a better goal difference.

Ocho Rios, though, have played one game less than the top four teams. York Castle are a point back on 11.

Yesterday’s Results

Cornwall College 1-0 Maldon

St James 2-1 Green Pond

Spot Valley 0-1 Irwin

Cambridge 0-1 Merlene Ottey

Green Island 0-6 Frome

Ocho Rios 6-0 Ferncourt

Brown’s Town 12-1 Doscovery Bay

York Castle 2-2 Cedric Titus

William Knibb 5-0 Aabuthnott Gallimore

Newell 1-3 Maggotty

Lacovia 5-1 Sydney Pagon

BB Coke 2-1 Munro

STETHS 20-0 Roger Clarke

Iona 1-8 Wyclife Martin

Annotto Bay 0-2 Horace Clarke

Tacky 2-2 St Mary

Carron Hall 2-3 St Mary Tech

May Day 1-3 Manchester

Belair 12-0 Cross Keys

Mt St Joseph 0-6 DeCarteret College