All square between Rusea’s, Cornwall

TWO LATE penalties resulted in a dramatic finish between Cornwall College and Rusea’s High School in the second round of the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup football competition at the Collin Miller Sports Complex in Lucea yesterday.

The penalties saw the two end all square at 1-1, with Rusea’s now on four points and Cornwall on two in the competition’s Group 1.

Kemps Hill are also on four points after a 2-1 win over Spot Valley to eliminate them from the competition. Spot Valley also lost to Rusea’s 1-0 on Thursday.

While Rusea’s outplayed Cornwall during the first half, they failed to convert a number of easy chances that they must have thought had come back to haunt them when the latter’s captain, Deshaun Talber, put home an 89th-minute penalty.

The penalty was given after Rusea’s Tiaunte Williams was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area.

But deep into time added (90+6), Rusea’s would earn a much-needed point from the game, Cory Palmer putting his side back on level pegging with a penalty up the other end of the pitch.

That penalty was brought about after Cornwall’s Venroy Lynch fouled Williams in the box.

Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis, coach of Rusea’s, said overall, it was a good game for the team.

“We came short with our number 10 and number six. They fell short today. If they had played the game we wanted, I think we could have played much better and maybe got the three points,” Davis told The Gleaner.

He continued, “We have another game that we need to win to get to the next round, so before Wednesday, we have to sit them down, give them an ice bath, and ensure that they recover because that is most important.”

Meanwhile, coach of Cornwall College, Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore, said destiny was in their hands.

“I dont think it’s difficult. We have a game to play. Both Kemps Hill and Rusea’s are on four points and will face each other for the last game. We are on two points to encounter a Spot Valley team, so destiny is in our hands,” Whitmore said.

“The game today was a good performance from both teams. Our decision making in the final minute wasn’t good, but overall, it was a fair result,” he added.

Yesterday’s results

Rusea’s 1-1 Cornwall

Kemps Hill 2-1 Spot Valley

Paul Bogle 1-3 Clarendon

William Knibb 0-1 Manning’s

Ocho Rios 4-0 Cedric Titus

Happy Grove 4-3 Denbigh

Black River 0- 2 Frome

Christiana 4-0 St Mary High

Garvey Maceo 2-2 McGrath

STETHS 0-0 Manchester

Dinthill 0-0 Central

Maldon 0-2 Alphansus Davis

Tichfield 0-2 Glenmuir