Glenmuir seek to avoid quarterfinal slip-up

Glenmuir High School coach Andrew Peart is confident he can get out of the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup quarterfinal round this time around.

Glenmuir are second in Group A, behind Clarendon College on goal difference. They lead Manchester and Christiana High schools, who are yet to get off the mark.

In past seasons, Glenmuir have made it to the quarters, won their first game just as they did with the 2-0 defeat of Manchester on Wednesday, but still failed to be one of the teams that line up in the final four.

Last season, they didn’t even make the quarters.

Today they play at home against Christiana from the very familiar position of having taken the first step.

This time, Peart says they won’t slip.

“We know exactly what to do. We have been in situations like these where we won the first game and never made it out but I think this year we are using those experiences. We are very driven and I think we will be 100 per cent focused for the game against Christiana,” Peart had said post game on Wednesday.

Christiana, on the other, hand, have already slipped 4-0 against the defending champions Clarendon College and like any wounded animal, are dangerous.

Speaking of Clarendon, Glenmuir also have to play the offensive juggernauts in this quarterfinal and certainly do not want to wait until that game before they can consider themselves safe.

Clarendon, like Glenmuir, have taken the first step and do not want to find themselves in a position where they will have to get into a fight in the last game of the round.

Today Clarendon go to Manchester, to play against a team with a bit of a confidence problem.

Manchester showed the odd instance of being able to compete with Glenmuir on Wednesday but that only came after they were 2-0 down.

Against Clarendon, who may not be as wasteful as Glenmuir were in front of goal, they could be out of the competition before they remember they can compete.

Coming late to the party isn’t new to Manchester. They were also almost out of the round of 16 when they were hurt by the faster-starting BB Coke to be down 2-0 before they responded, eventually losing 4-2.

“After going 2-nil down we showed a little more fight, a little more composure whenever we had the ball and it showed us that we can play whenever we decide to play,” said Manchester coach, Patrick Graham, on Wednesday.

BB Coke, after topping that round of 16, have found Group B in the quarterfinals a tougher nut to crack.

In their first outing on Wednesday, they found themselves muted by four goals from Garvey Maceo, who lead the group.

Recovery after such an inauspicious start may be difficult, especially against Cornwall College, who they visit at Jarrett Park.

Cornwall were also humbled on day one of the quarterfinal round, losing 2-0 to Dinthill Technical and will be anxious to get on to the points table because there is an opportunity to be one of the two teams through to the semifinals.

Cornwall though have been guilty of showing up on one day and not on another. That may not give BB Coke any ease since their backs are now firmly against the wall.

In the other game from Group B, Dinthill take on Garvey Maceo at the Ewarton Sports Complex, which may be the most enticing game of the round.

Garvey Maceo have been on the improve and looked the part of previous champions when they left BB Coke shaken on Wednesday.

While Dinthill were not as dominant in their opener, they were certainly comfortable and showed they can hurt Garvey Maceo on the day.

Today’s Games

Manchester vs Clarendon College at Manchester

Glenmuir vs Christiana at Glenmuir

Cornwall College vs BB Coke at Jarrett Park

Dinthill vs Garvey Maceo at Ewarton Sports Complex

All games begin at 3 p.m.