Denbigh High defy the odds again

DENBIGH High School continue to defy the odds after pulling off a big 3-1 upset win over Kemps Hill High at the Wembley Centre of Excellence in Hayes, Clarendon, to win Group 3 of the ISSA/ daCosta Cup football competition and qualify for the round-of-16 for the second time in three seasons. Lashawn Barnaby scored twice and Markland Williams got the other for Denbigh High as they edged Kemps Hill on more goals scored after the teams ended on 10 points and a goal difference of four. Denbigh were third in the group going into the game after they were beaten by St Mary High in the previous match, but Head Coach Christopher Carney said they were always confident. Also on Tuesday, Munro College confirmed their place in the round-of-16 after edging Irwin High 2-1 at Munro to join Frome Technical who were beaten 3-2 by Maggotty High at Lacovia Community Centre. The final qualifiers will be decided today, with three former champions — Glenmuir High, Rusea’s High and Cornwall College — as well as Central High and Manchester High all seeking a spot in the next round. Denbigh had to use regular central defender Kenardo Smith in goal after regular starter Kevin Pryce was sent off against St Mary High, but Carney said they were still confident. “Kemps Hill have not beaten us in a while. Last year we were in the same position — needing a win in our final game to advance — and we beat them 1-0,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “This team is full of fighters and they know how to win,” he said. “The players are close and they play for each other.” Garvey Maceo finished third in the group after they were beaten 3-2 by Mile Gully High at home. Munro College grabbed second place in Group 1 after beating Irwin High with goals from Kajaye Williams and Akel Vesprey, at Munro, to finished tied on 12 points with Frome Technical. Despite going down 2-3 to Maggotty High, Frome Technical edged Munro College on goal difference to top the group. Meanwhile, defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High will have to wait to see if they qualify for a best third-placed team after they rebounded from their 4-2 loss to Frome on Saturday to beat Holmwood Technical 2-0. Dontae Hewitt scored from the penalty spot in the 54th minute and Shavari Walker scored in the 60th minute as STETHS ended on nine points in third place. Today, long-time rivals Rusea’s High and Cornwall College will meet in Montego Bay for second place in Group 6, with the visitors needing only a point to advance. Rusea’s High, who were held 1-1 by Brown’s Town on Monday, are on seven points — one more than Cornwall College who were edged 1-0 on Saturday by Manning’s School and must win today to continue in the competition. Glenmuir High are all but certain to advance, even with a loss to group leaders Lacovia High, as they are on 10 points in Group 2 with a massive goal difference of 23. Central High are in third place on seven points and would need to score a double-digit win over Old Harbour, and hope Glenmuir lose by a large margin, to have any hopes of an automatic spot. Manchester High, who also boast a healthy goal difference in Group 5, need just a draw against Christiana to make progress, joining Clarendon College who will host Lennon High. Also, qualifiers McGrath High and Ocho Rios High will meet for Group 4 honours at McGrath. The hosts are on 12 points, two more than Ocho Rios High, while Dinthill Technical and BB Coke High will meet for third place in the group.   Tuesday’s results •Garvey Maceo 2, Mile Gully High 3 •Kemps Hill High 1, Denbigh High 3 •Knox College 0, St Mary High 0 •Maggotty High 3, Frome Tech 2 •STETHS 2, Holmwood Tech 0 •Munro College 2, Irwin High 1   Wednesday’s games (3:00 pm start)   •McGrath High vs Ocho Rios at McGrath High •Dinthill Technical vs BB Coke at Dinthill •Morant Bay High vs Titchfield High at Morant Bay High •Old Harbour High vs Central High at Linval Dixon Oval •Glenmuir High vs Lacovia High at Glenmuir •Yallahs High vs Ferncourt High at Yallahs Sports Complex •Christiana High vs Manchester High at Kirkvine Sports Complex •Clarendon College vs Lennon High at Clarendon College •Porus High vs Edwin Allen at Porus High •Manning’s School vs William Knibb at Manning’s School •Cornwall College vs Rusea’s High at Cornwall College •St James High vs Brown’s Town High at Jarrett Park