STETHS rally for a share of points with McGrath

ST ELIZABETH Technical High School (STETHS) rallied to draw with McGrath High School 1-1 in their ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup quarter-finals match at the STETHS Sports Complex yesterday.

In wet, muddy conditions, McGrath’s Jimm Mitchell started things early, scoring in the 26th minute, but watched as his strike was cancelled out in the 68th through STETH’s Justin McPherson.

While the conditions were not ideal for the best football, STETHS coach Omar ‘Rambo’ Wedderburn said he would not be looking for any excuses.

“I don’t look at football that way because, if we have to play on fire, you have to go out and play on fire. If the weather is bad, two teams play on the surface, so we cannot complain about the conditions. I think the guys really dug deep today but we didn’t make use of our spell. We could have scored more. It was a nice game, and I am comfortable with the point,” said Wedderburn.

“It is the quarter-finals round, so it is dog-nyam-dog time. That is what it is right now. Every team is going to come and give what they have,” he added.

Unlike Wedderburn, Jermaine Thomas, coach of McGrath High School, said the conditions were difficult.

“The field was heavily saturated and difficult to play on. However, the guys showed depth and defended well. One and two times, it was scary, but we stood tall and worked really hard. Taking into consideration the underfoot conditions, it was a good game and they played their hearts out,” Thomas said.

He added, “At the quarter-final stage of any competition, it will always be hard and tough because eight of the best teams are here playing.”

In what was a fairly balanced game, Mitchell’s header, which left STETHS goalkeeper Johnoi Stedman stranded, slanted the contest toward his team.

Conceding a goal did not sit well with the hosts, and they came hunting in the second half.

The boys from Santa Cruz fought hard and began to dominate proceedings, and, in the 68th minute, broke the McGrath resistance when McPherson timed a perfect cross well to strike home.

This brought a surge of energy to both STETHS players and the fans who came out to support.

STETHS created the final chance of the game but were foiled by McGrath’s stout defending.

Yesterday’s results

Glenmuir 4-3 Frome

Central 2-2 Garvey Maceo

STETHS 1-1 McGrath