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STETHS repel MHS, retain Francis KO
BY PAUL A REID Observer Writer
Sunday, October 30, 2011
MONTEGO BAY, St James — A defender's goal from Alburn Facey in the 90th minute decided the ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Ben Francis Knockout at Jarrett Park yesterday as St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) retained the title with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Manchester High.
In what was a cruel twist to a game of high quality between two good teams on a muddy, sub-par playing surface, a defender powerfully headed a third consecutive corner from STETHS into the ground and the ball rebounded past him and into the goal at the near right post.
Jason McLean of St Elizabeth Technical (left) and Samuda Johnson of Manchester High battle for possession of the ball during their ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Ben Francis KO final at Jarrett Park yesterday. STETHS won 2-1 to retain their title. (Photo: Paul Reid)
Jason McLean of St Elizabeth Technical (left) and Samuda Johnson of Manchester High battle for possession of the ball during their ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Ben Francis KO final at Jarrett Park yesterday. STETHS won 2-1 to retain their title. (Photo: Paul Reid) 1/1
Manchester had taken the lead mid way the first half through a brilliant free kick from Shenaldo Parkes, while STETHS equalised early in the second half, thanks to a header from Jamel Sinclair.
This was the first loss for Manchester this season in their 15th match, while STETHS remained unbeaten over the same number.
STETHS were winning their third of their five titles in the last three seasons after copping the daCosta Cup in 2009, over Manchester High, and the Ben Francis KO last year, while Manchester are still hunting their first major title.
STETHS' coach Andrew Edwards told reporters after the game he noted the Manchester players celebrating after they left the field at half-time and reminded his team they had 45 minutes to go.
Edwards admitted they had a slow start. "We were flat at the start and there was no transition from defence to forward," he said, "but we told them to remain calm, keep their composure and the goals would come."
It was a bitter loss for Manchester coach Sheldon Davis who was the assistant when the school was beaten by STETHS in the 2009 daCosta Cup final at the same venue.
"We were very confident coming into the game," he told reporters, but admitted the team "lost discipline in the midfield".
As they showed in their semi-final win over Rusea's last Wednesday, STETHS got stronger as the game progressed, and after yielding first-half points to Manchester, dominated the second half, despite point man Kevon Farquharson being kept off the scoresheet for the second straight game.
Manchester had the first real scoring chance in the 20th when STETHS goalkeeper Leopete Cole left his line but was beaten to the ball by Ashawni Lawrence. He, however, managed to get the ball out of play.
STETHS hit back four minutes later when Jason McLean ran around left-back Londe Francis, but his low, hard cross was blocked on the goal-line by the Manchester defence.
Parkes, who decided Manchester's semi-final match against Paul Bogle High with a scorching free kick, was at his brilliant best in the 27th when his spot kick from 25 yards hit the right upright and rebounded across the goal and goal-line to give his team the lead.
Manchester goalkeeper Akeem Nelson was forced to make a good save in the 49th when he managed to get his gloves to a ball that Scarlett had spun and fired in one movement.
Sinclair, who was a late substitute against Rusea's last Wednesday, got to a cross in the 51st to head past goalkeeper Nelson to level the scores.
The goal seems to have switched the momentum to STETHS as they kept the ball in the Manchester area for long periods, with the opponents hitting back on counter attacks.
With the game seem headed for extra-time, STETHS snatched victory and the title almost on the final kick.
With Manchester failing to clear a ball from their area and conceding three consecutive corners, Facey — the Manchster captain — buckled under sustained pressure and headed into his own goal.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1cHQSCRNS
BY PAUL A REID Observer Writer
Sunday, October 30, 2011
MONTEGO BAY, St James — A defender's goal from Alburn Facey in the 90th minute decided the ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Ben Francis Knockout at Jarrett Park yesterday as St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) retained the title with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Manchester High.
In what was a cruel twist to a game of high quality between two good teams on a muddy, sub-par playing surface, a defender powerfully headed a third consecutive corner from STETHS into the ground and the ball rebounded past him and into the goal at the near right post.
Jason McLean of St Elizabeth Technical (left) and Samuda Johnson of Manchester High battle for possession of the ball during their ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Ben Francis KO final at Jarrett Park yesterday. STETHS won 2-1 to retain their title. (Photo: Paul Reid)
Jason McLean of St Elizabeth Technical (left) and Samuda Johnson of Manchester High battle for possession of the ball during their ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Ben Francis KO final at Jarrett Park yesterday. STETHS won 2-1 to retain their title. (Photo: Paul Reid) 1/1
Manchester had taken the lead mid way the first half through a brilliant free kick from Shenaldo Parkes, while STETHS equalised early in the second half, thanks to a header from Jamel Sinclair.
This was the first loss for Manchester this season in their 15th match, while STETHS remained unbeaten over the same number.
STETHS were winning their third of their five titles in the last three seasons after copping the daCosta Cup in 2009, over Manchester High, and the Ben Francis KO last year, while Manchester are still hunting their first major title.
STETHS' coach Andrew Edwards told reporters after the game he noted the Manchester players celebrating after they left the field at half-time and reminded his team they had 45 minutes to go.
Edwards admitted they had a slow start. "We were flat at the start and there was no transition from defence to forward," he said, "but we told them to remain calm, keep their composure and the goals would come."
It was a bitter loss for Manchester coach Sheldon Davis who was the assistant when the school was beaten by STETHS in the 2009 daCosta Cup final at the same venue.
"We were very confident coming into the game," he told reporters, but admitted the team "lost discipline in the midfield".
As they showed in their semi-final win over Rusea's last Wednesday, STETHS got stronger as the game progressed, and after yielding first-half points to Manchester, dominated the second half, despite point man Kevon Farquharson being kept off the scoresheet for the second straight game.
Manchester had the first real scoring chance in the 20th when STETHS goalkeeper Leopete Cole left his line but was beaten to the ball by Ashawni Lawrence. He, however, managed to get the ball out of play.
STETHS hit back four minutes later when Jason McLean ran around left-back Londe Francis, but his low, hard cross was blocked on the goal-line by the Manchester defence.
Parkes, who decided Manchester's semi-final match against Paul Bogle High with a scorching free kick, was at his brilliant best in the 27th when his spot kick from 25 yards hit the right upright and rebounded across the goal and goal-line to give his team the lead.
Manchester goalkeeper Akeem Nelson was forced to make a good save in the 49th when he managed to get his gloves to a ball that Scarlett had spun and fired in one movement.
Sinclair, who was a late substitute against Rusea's last Wednesday, got to a cross in the 51st to head past goalkeeper Nelson to level the scores.
The goal seems to have switched the momentum to STETHS as they kept the ball in the Manchester area for long periods, with the opponents hitting back on counter attacks.
With the game seem headed for extra-time, STETHS snatched victory and the title almost on the final kick.
With Manchester failing to clear a ball from their area and conceding three consecutive corners, Facey — the Manchster captain — buckled under sustained pressure and headed into his own goal.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1cHQSCRNS
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