STETHS leave Frome daCosta Cup dreams in tatters

FROME TECHNICAL’S bid for a final-four place in the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup ended at the hands of St Elizabeth Technical High School yesterday, the latter running out 3-1 winners at the Llandilo Sports Complex in Westmoreland.

The result leaves STETHS second in Group A on four points and one step closer to qualifying for the semi-finals and Champions Cup. They will face Glenmuir on Saturday at home.

STETHS only need a draw to secure their spot.

An eliminated Frome will join the second round of the Ben Francis Knockout but will take on McGrath on Saturday in their final daCosta Cup game.

McGrath will need a win to have a fighting chance.

In a hostile environment, Frome’s Clinton Beckford curled in a corner to open the scoring in the 21st minute but had to watch as STETHS’s Justin McPherson made things level in the 27th.

STETHS’s Jordan Blake would give his side the lead just four minutes later.

The St Elizabeth team then stamped their dominance on proceedings in the second half through Kaieem Lewis’s 46th-minute effort.

Frome’s Jamaro Grant was sent to an early shower, courtesy of a second caution, and he was followed into the locker room by his coach, Cleighton Stephens.

The red cards signalled the flaring of tempers, forcing STETHS players to quickly leave the field at the end of the game.

Omar ‘Rambo’ Wedderburn, who has been lauding the efforts of his players all season, continued to do so.

“Sometimes games will be rough, and some will be easy. In the quarterfinal round, you expect every game to be competitive. You only look for three points because the position that we were in, only that could give us an ease towards the next game. I think the guys came and dug deep. I really appreciate the win,” Wedderburn said.

Meanwhile, Stephens said the boys fell asleep during the game.

“It was a disappointing way to end the season again. We came out fighting and scored an early goal, but I don’t know what really happened. We just have to regroup and focus on Ben Francis now. We lost on the weekend, and it was like it was still playing on them. I thought they recovered because they were in high spirits, but that is football,” Stephens explained.

In Group B, Central and Ocho Rios High schools are tied on two points after their 1-1 draw yesterday, with the former leading on goals scored.

Central will face a wounded Munro, who were demolished by Group B leaders Garvey Maceo, on four points.

Ocho Rios will tackle Garvey Maceo at Drax Hall in St Ann in their final match, while Munro, on a point at the foot of the table, will host Central.

Yesterday’s results

Frome 1-3 STETHS

Garvey Maceo 3-0 Munro

Central 1-1 Ocho Rios