Spot Valley, William Knibb look to separate themselves

EVEN THOUGH just three goals separate Spot Valley High from top-of-Zone-D’s William Knibb, coach Damion Nelson says his team are underdogs going into today’s ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup at William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny at 3:30 p.m.

Both schools are on a four-game winning streak with 12 points.

“This year we want to create history and be the team going to the next round as first or second. It has been three to four years since going to the second round. It had been Cedric Titus and William Knibb who would always be the two top teams to go through. We are going to do what we have to do to create an upset,” Nelson said.

“Our mindset today is trying to be compact as a team, nullify them passing the ball and try not to concede a goal early. Preparations have been going well but what we are going to do is put some things we did in training into place and display that in the game.”

According to Nelson, Spot Valley began competing in the ISSA daCosta Cup in 2006. The team has advanced to the second round five times and made it to the quarterfinals in 2016.

Meanwhile, coach of William Knibb, Dwight Jeremiah, believes that today’s matchup will be their most difficult game of the round. He also believes winning the game will boost the players’ confidence.

“It is to create clear daylight between ourselves and them. Right now, it’s a little shade, so it is for us to try and win the game to be three points ahead. I can’t speak to their overall quality; I would have to assess them further but I know they are full of confidence because they won four games. I expect them to be bubbling because confidence can take you far in terms of how you approach the game. I do expect them to come and try and win,” Jeremiah told The Gleaner.

“I am not saying we are the favourites to win. Both of us are on 12 points, our goal difference is better than theirs. Our team hasn’t conceded yet and are playing at home, so all of that will be an indication pointing to us being the team expected to win,” he added.

William Knibb began competing in the daCosta Cup in 1978. In 2002 they lost 1-0 to many-time champions Rusea’s High School in their first and only trip to the finals.

Today’s matches

Green Pond High vs Cornwall

Irwin vs Herbert Morrison

St James High vs Maldon

Cambridge vs Green Island

Manning’s vs Grange Hill

Discovery Bay vs Cedric Titus

Muschett High vs Holland

BB Coke vs Lacovia

Belair vs Mayday

Holmwood Tech vs Troy

Knox College vs Christiana

Bellefield High vs Alphansus Davis

Alston vs Mile Gully

Claude McKay vs Central

Edwin Allen vs Thompson Town

Lennon High vs Denbigh

Garvey Maceo High vs Kemps Hill

Winston Jones vs Porus

Vere Tech vs Foga Road

Old Harbour High vs Glenmuir

McGarth High vs Enid Bennett

Ewarton High vs Dinthill

Charlemont High vs Tacius Golding

Ocho Rios High vs Ferncourt

Aabuthnott Gallimore High vs York Castle

Brown’s Town High vs Marcus Garvey Tech