D’Cup champions in hot water

A BRACE from Antwone Smith, inclusive of a dramatic late goal, ensured that there were no hiccups for Munro College on their way to the quarterfinals of ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup competition when they defeated defending champions Clarendon College 2-1 in the round of 16 at Munro College’s playfield yesterday.

The result leaves Munro atop of Zone 2, on six points, after they beat Cornwall College in their first game, 3-1, on Saturday. Frome eliminated Cornwall College with a 1-0 victory to stand second in the group on four points. They will play Munro on Saturday.

Clarendon, on one point from their drawn game against Frome on Saturday, will play Cornwall College on Saturday. Already eliminated, Cornwall will now turn their attention to the Ben Francis Knockout’s first round.

Smith, Munro’s leading tallisman, opened the scoring in the 25th minute but watched as Clarendon’s Deandre Gallimore’s penalty in the 37th minute pegged his side back.

Just when many fans thought the game would end 1-1, Clarendon’s goalkeeper, Roshae Burrell, and teammate Daniel Clarke collided in an attempt to intercept a long pass from Munro’s Sadiquie Savariau.

Smith was on hand to make them pay.

“Last year, Clarendon beat me when I was playing at STETHS, so I came out here with a vengeance in my heart. I came here saying I had to do it, and I executed. It was a very hard game playing the defending champions, but we came out with a must-win mentality,” Smith declared.

“We have been an underrated school for the last 20 years. I say, ‘Watch out for us’. Some of the players are not in the media as much as others, but we are going to do good. I believe in this team,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lenworth Hyde, head coach of Clarendon, said it was a hard loss to take.

“We dominated the game, but when you are not scoring goals, those things will happen. We gave up a goal, a mistake from the goalkeeper and the centre half. Such is life, such is football, but we have to maintain our discipline. We have to prepare for our next game and try and win,” Hyde said

He continued: “I think the Munro team is disciplined, and they defended well. They hit the long balls until we made a mistake. That is how we lost the game, our mistake.”

In other games yesterday, Central High School, courtesy of a 1-0 win over Denbigh High School, qualified for the quarterfinals, while McGrath High School did the same, after a similar victory over Manchester.

The two are already on six points with a game to go in Zone 4. Denbigh and Manchester are yet to grab a point.

Yesterday’s results

Cornwall College 0-1 Frome

Glenmuir 3- 0 Ocho Rios

McGrath 1-0 Manchester

Central 1-0 Denbigh