BB Coke victory leaves Group B wide open

TWELVE-TIME CHAMPIONS Cornwall College find themselves on the verge of elimination from this season’s ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup competition after they were clipped 2-1 by underdogs BB Coke at Jarrett Park yesterday.

The result means Cornwall, with a game to go in their Group B quarterfinal round, are yet to register a point, having also lost to Dinthill 2-0 on Wednesday.

They lie fourth in the group with BB Coke third, while Dinthill lead the group with six points after a 3-0 win over Garvey Maceo.

Garvey Maceo are second, ahead of BB Coke on goal difference after their big 4-0 win over them on Wednesday.

BB Coke returned to their fast-starting strategy, Jahmaul Wright bagging a brace with his sixth-minute opener ad 13th-minute addition. Cornwall College’s Rackeem Grizzle would get his team on the scoresheet in the 66th minute to make things interesting.

BB Coke outplayed Cornwall in that first half, controlling possession throughout.

The boys from Top Hill would make their early dominance count when Wright converted a free kick.

Seven minutes later Wright was at it again, climbing highest to meet a cross, leaving a confused goalkeeper Carlyle Tinglin to pick the ball from the back of the net.

Kemar Ricketts, head coach of B.B Coke, was heard during half-time telling his players: “So far, this is a good game. Keep controlling the game, please. We control the first half, now let us continue in the second half.”

The cohesive football of the first half was replaced with beautiful high-energy action that brought spectators to their feet.

All that energy though was with Cornwall, who were determined to get back into the contest.

Then, from a corner, Grizzle made things even more interesting when he rose in the 66th to leave the game delicately poised.

Cornwall enjoyed similar domination in the second half to BB Coke’s in the first. It was as if BB Coke’s players forgot the coach’s half-time speech.

Ricketts could be heard screaming from the top of his lungs, issuing instructions to the team, but the players looked confused and sluggish.

Cornwall, aware of their precarious position, weren’t about to give up, and created numerous chances but could not convert them.

With time winding down, Cornwall committed more players into attack, seeking an equaliser, but those hopes were dashed.

According to Ricketts though, the jitters of the second half would have been non-existent had they taken advantage of their first-half dominance.

“We still have a chance. We came here seeking a victory, and we got the victory. We could have finished the game in the first half, but nevertheless, we got the three points. I think the game was up and down. We had a beautiful first half and would have hoped we would have brought that into the second half. We stuck through, and sometimes you have to dig deep, and that’s what we did,” Ricketts explained.

“Conceding five goals for the quarterfinals is not a reflection of our team. We had dengue taking over the camp the day we played Garvey Maceo. When people heard about the four-nil, it was a run over, but it was nowhere near that. I think we picked ourselves up well, came to Montego Bay, and got our three points. I think all teams in this quarterfinal are good opponents. Everybody has a chance, and we are just taking ours as we get them,” he added.

Dr Dean Wheatherly, coach of Cornwall College, said the early goals put the team back.

“You cannot give up or give the other team chances to come at you because you will pay dearly and we suffered that today. We kind of started out flat. It is one where we should have been more mature and recovered much earlier after the early goals. The first half was very poor but we started playing in the second half. If we had started the game like that, we would have won. We got one goal, we were looking for the other one, but that is how the game of football goes.

“As for the semifinals, it is a mathematical situation, but we have to win the game. In winning the game, we have to score some goals

and that is what we need to do.”

In Group A, defending champions Clarendon College were again in dominant form, slamming home four unanswered goals against Manchester to book their spot in the semifinal. Glenmuir, with their second win, a 1-0 affair against Christiana, are also through to the final four.

Yesterday’s results

Cornwall College 1-2 BB Coke

Manchester High 0-4 Clarendon College

Glenmuir 1-0 Christiana

Dinthill 3-0 Garvey Maceo