William Knibb fight never-ending uphill battle

WILLIAM KNIBB High School are behind the eight ball again in this season’s ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup competition.

Over the past few seasons, William Knibb have been playing the kind of football that would put them among the ranks of contenders, but this season, they have struggled.

In fact, getting to the round of 16 for William Knibb has been no easy feat. They lost three crucial points in the first round on account of an infringement having to do with too many cards, creating a six-point swing that threatened their whole season.

They got the last possible spot to the round of 32, where they drew with a more fancied Central High School at home before squeezing out a 1-0 win away.

As if finishing 14th of the teams in the round of 16 weren’t enough, they were at home to Christian in a Group 3 clash, losing 2-3.

William Knibb now find themselves at the bottom of Group 3, with Dinthill and McGrath, who drew on Saturday, ahead of them.

Dinthill play table-topping Christiana today, while William Knibb have some catching up to do in their fixture against McGrath. Any slips and it could mean lights out.

In Group 1 of the round of 16, St Elizabeth Technical High School, who won a humdinger against Cornwall on the weekend, play against group leaders, Clarendon College.

Calrendon are favourites to win the daCosta Cup and could use the opportunity to show their dominance.

Getting the better of STETHS could be helpful to third-place Cornwall, who play Mile Gully in a battle of the teams yet to win.

But Mile Gully are no pushovers, having only lost 0-2 to the usually rampant Clarendon on the weekend.

Group winners of the four-group round go the quarterfinals along with second-place teams.

Teams finishing third and fourth go into the Ben Francis Knockout Cup’s first round.

In Group 2, BB Coke High School and Manchester face off for control, both having won their opening encounters, while Happy Grove and Tacky have the chance to get off the mark.

Garvey Maceo, who earned a point against Glenmuir in a scoreless draw on Saturday, go up against Frome in Group 4. Frome squeezed out a 1-0 win over Port Antonio on Saturday, leaving them at the bottom of the table against the fancied Glenmuir staring them in the face.

Today’s Games

BB Coke vs Manchester at STETHS (2:30 p.m.)

Cornwall vs Mile Gully at Jarrett Park (3:00 p.m.)

Happy Grove vs Tacky at Carder Park (3:00 p.m.)

William Knibb vs McGrath at Drax Hall (3:00 p.m.)

Christiana vs Dinthill at Brooks Park (3:00 p.m.)

Garvey Maceo vs Frome at Foga Road (3:00 p.m.)

Glenmuir vs Port Antonio at Glenmuir (3:00 p.m.)

STETHS vs Clarendon at STETHS (4:30 p.m.)