Tue | Nov 5, 2024

Irwin double leaves Cornwall in precarious position

Published:Sunday | October 16, 2022 | 12:13 AMKavarly Arnold - Gleaner Writer
Photo by Ashley Anguin /Photographer Irwin High School’s O’Neil White (left) battles with Cornwall College’s Braxton Richards during an ISSA daCosta Cup football match at the at the Cornwall College Sports Complex yesterday.
Ashley Anguin
Photo by Ashley Anguin /Photographer Irwin High School’s O’Neil White (left) battles with Cornwall College’s Braxton Richards during an ISSA daCosta Cup football match at the at the Cornwall College Sports Complex yesterday.

Western Burea:

IRWIN HIGH School came from behind to do the double over Cornwall College and snap their opponent’s win streak with a 2-1 victory in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) daCosta Cup football competition at Cornwall College playfield, yesterday.

The result leaves CC in a difficult position as they would have to hope the team behind them drops points as both Maldon and Green Pond High have games in hand. Cornwall remain on 15 points while Green Pond now has 14 points after defeating St James High 2-0 and Maldon, who also have a game in hand, are now two points off with 13 following their 1-0 win over Anchovy High.

CC took the lead in controversial fashion just four minutes into the game, as Irwin had a handball appeal waved away only to see the alleged perpretrator, captain Giovanne Bruce, drill home a fierce shot.

Irwin came close to an equaliser in the 10th minute but Leo Campbell’s header came off the post, hit a defender and into the hands of the goalkeeper.

The visitors enjoyed the better of play for the remainder of the first half, creating a number of chances, but failing to score before the break.

It took Irwin until the 69th minute to find the equaliser through Nicholus Samuels. They would eventually go on to take the lead through a Mikhail Samuels own goal in the 74th minute.

CC had a chance to level the score but Irwin goalkeeper Jkwon Kenton came up big to deny Braxton Richards, who was one on one with him.

Norman Foster, coach of Irwin, described winning the double over the mighty Cornwall College as an exciting feeling, as they look ahead to the second round of the competition.

“We are happy for the win because this means we top the zone. Yes, it (winning the double over CC) is an exciting feeling. We have always been a contender to Cornwall College and I guess my team was much more prepared this time around,” Foster said.

“It (advancing to the second round) is the first time for Irwin. We are looking forward to going to the second round to perform and go deeper into the competition,” he added.

CC’s coach, Dr Dean Weatherly, said they were still hopeful about the second round as they focus on getting a win in their rescheduled match against St James High and hope luck favours them.

“We sink ourselves lower and it will be difficult for us now, looking at the backend of things. We haven’t given up hope yet, because it was one of those games that show that this is an up-and-down season for us. I hope it’s a learning situation for the boys,” Weatherly said.

“We have one more game to play and just have to make the best of it. Unfortunately, we have to depend on other teams to help us qualify for the next round. So let’s see because football is football,” he added.