Second-half blitz puts Garvey Maceo closer to final four

GARVEY MACEO moved one step closer to the semi-finals of the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup football competition after a dominant 3-0 win over Munro College yesterday at Glenmuir High.

That dominance came to the fore deep into the second half when Roshawn Whyte (74th), Omarion O’ Brian (78th), and Rakeesh Jones (93rd) helped the Cubanz separate themselves from the St Elizabeth team.

With the win, Garvey Maceo moved to four points and the top of Group B. They find themselves ahead of Central and Ocho Rios, second and third, respectively, on two points, and Munro, on one.

There was not much to cheer about in the first half of the contest, with both teams content to probe at each other.

Probing over, Garvey Maceo changed gears in the second half and were all over Munro. Had it not been for faulty shooting, Garvey Maceo would have taken the lead earlier in the half.

It wasn’t until the final 20 minutes that Garvey Maceo finally began to get some rewards for their dominance. Everald Swaby, who constantly proved a headache for the Munro defence, was well supported in his efforts by Whyte, O’Brian, and Christopher Mundle, who were also all having their way.

The goal came when Whyte controlled a ball just on the halfway line and dribbled all the way into the six-yard box before shooting past the Munro goalkeeper.

The goal seemed to have spurred the already marauding Garvey Maceo, and four minutes later, they increased the lead.

O’Brian, after receiving a pass from Mundle inside the six-yard box made no mistake. In the third minute of added time, Jones sealed the deal for his team, capitalising on a goalkeeper’s error.

Lester Hibbert, Garvey Maceo coach, while happy with the result, wants to keep his charges focused on the final game.

“First, I must say thanks to God. We are here for a reason, and that first goal really set the stage for us as the guys really dominated the final 20 minutes. The team really wanted it, and the guys will now refocus for their final game,” said Hibbert.

Munro coach, Kemar Ricketts, was disappointed, citing the conditions as a major factor in the loss.

“I am very disappointed with the result. The team will have to reorganise for the final match. The conditions did not help the team as the guys are not used to these heavy underfoot conditions,” said Ricketts.