Defending champs STETHS out of daCosta Cup

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — St Elizabeth Technical’s defence of the ISSA daCosta Cup ended on Thursday after they were beaten 2-1 by Manchester High in their Round of 16 Group 2 game played in Mandeville. It was STETHS’ second loss in as many games in the Round of 16 after they had qualified for the third round as one of four best third-placed teams and sit at the foot of the zone without a point with one game to go. Vinroy Lyttleton gave STETHS the lead in the 47th minute but Javontae Gordon equalised in the 68th minute and a mistake by the STETHS goalkeeper, Johnoi Steadman led to the winner in time added. Steadman failed to hold on to a cross from the right side and Shamar Reynolds pounced on it and scored from about two yards out. Glenmuir High meanwhile advanced to the quarterfinals along with Cornwall College, both winning back-to-back games by similar 3-0 scorelines. Glenmuir High beat Kemps Hill High 3-0 and rushed to six points in Zone 2, two ahead of Manchester High who are on four points. Cornwall College beat Frome Technical in Montego Bay to win Zone 1 after Ocho Rios High and Garvey Maceo drew 2-2 at Drax Hall. Cornwall College’s win came at a high cost however as referee Christopher Mason handed out seven red cards, four to Frome Technical players and three to Cornwall College after an ugly brawl marred the contest that the home team led 3-0 at the time and which saw a number of cautions throughout. Before the brawl, Frome Technical was reduced to 10 men after Tessaney Rankine was sent off by referee Mason and he was joined by three other teammates—goalkeeper Demarcus Foster, captain Tavar Cox and Romario Clarke. Cornwall College’s captain and goalkeeper Carlyle Tingling, Shaheem Bernard and Jevaughn Campbell were also sent off. Cornwall College dominated the game and led 2-0 at half time thanks to an own goal in the seventh minute and a second from Demarco Finnikin in the 23rd minute. Shakeem Gibson got the third in the 59th minute. At Drax Hall, Ocho Rios High gave up an early 2-0 lead and had to settle for a draw against Garvey Maceo that ended the game with 10 players. Ryan Francis gave Ocho Rios the lead in the third minute and Dario James converted a penalty in the seventh minute before Hugh Turner cut the deficit in half when he scored for Garvey Maceo in the 16th minute. An own goal from Alex Fletcher in the 64th minute gave Garvey Maceo a share of the points. Dinthill Technical leads Zone 3 with four points after their come-from-behind 1-1 draw against Clarendon College while Denbigh High rebounded form their loss on Saturday to edged Lacovia High 1-0 at the St Elizabeth Sports Complex. Both Lacovia and Denbigh are on three points with Clarendon on one. Munro College and McGrath High are tied on four points at the top of Zone 4 after playing out a 1-1 draw at Munro College while Central High rebounded from their loss to hammer Manning's School 4-1 at Llandilo Sports Complex. Wednesday’s results Ocho Rios High-2,  Garvey Maceo High-2 Cornwall College-3, Frome Tech-0 Lacovia High-0, Denbigh High-1 Clarendon College-1, Dinthill Technical-1 Manchester High-2, STETHS-1 Kemps Hill High-0, Glenmuir High-3 Munro College-1, McGrath High-1 Manning’s School-1, Central High-4 — Paul A Reid