Adrian Frater, News Editor

Cornwall College skipper Edward Campbell (left) is tackled by Grange Hill's Andrae Patterson in yesterday's Ben Francis Cup KO game between the teams at Jarrett Park. Grange Hill won 4-2 on penalties. - Photo by Adrian Frater

WESTERN BUREAU:

RUSEA'S, GARVEY Maceo, Grange Hill and Dinthill snapped up the four slots for this Wednesday's semi-finals of the Ben Francis Cup knockout competition when they emerged victorious from yesterday's quarter-final round.

In their game against Manchester High School at the St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) ground, Rusea's, who drew a first-round bye, booked their semi-final place behind Godfrey Cunningham and the prolific Andrae Atkinson, who fired them to a 2-0 win.

"I thought we played a very good game today and were most deserving of victory," said Rusea's coach Anthony 'Follies' Williams. "We are now in good position to take this trophy and that is where our focus will be going into Wednesday's semi-final."

In the game at Brancourt, which was expected to generate much fireworks, red-hot Garvey Maceo proved too much for Clarendon College in a 3-0 romp. The prolific Daniel Callaghan (two) and Ashton Bennett were the men on target for Jeffrey Hewitt-coached Garvey Maceo.

"We went out there and played good team football and were tactically quite disciplined today," said Hewitt. "What is working well for us is the fact that our preparation was sound and that the players are responding well to instruction."

Deserving winners

In their game at Carder Park, Dinthill, who have been having a pretty decent season, ended Fair Prospect's run in the knockout phase of the competition when they clipped them 1-0 behind Rosario Harriott's first-half strike.

"We played quite well today and I believe we are deserving winners," said Michael Daley, a member of the Dinthill coaching staff. "Full congratulations to the boys for giving us this win."

At Jarrett Park, the contest between Grange Hill and Cornwall turned out to be an epic affair and it was no surprise when regulation and extra-time play ended with the score locked at 2-2. However, Grange Hill proved the better team in the penalty shoot-out, running out 4-2 winners.

The game started with Grange Hill grabbing the lead in the second minute when Ronaldo Jowehill latched on to a superb pass from Ryan Gayle and side-footed into the goal, making the score 1-0. Cornwall College drew level 12 minutes later when skipper Edward Campbell sliced through the Grange Hill defence and booted home.

Grange Hill reclaimed the lead in the 25th minute when the wily Jowehill got the better of the goalkeeper from a lofted cross and flicked the ball into the goal, making the halftime score 2-1.

With time ebbing away in the second half, Cornwall again drew level in the 72nd minute when a neat cross found Radcliff Hall unmarked before the goal and his glancing header gave the goalkeeper no chance, making the regulation and extra-time score 2-2.