Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
ST JAMES High School were on fire yesterday as they turned in a commanding performance to thrash newcomers Spot Valley 5-1 in their Zone A ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup match at Jarrett Park.
By virtue of their win, St James High, who scored through Ricardo Morris (two), Nicholi Barrett, Ajohn Barker and Randy Myrie, have joined Cornwall College and Maldon atop the group standings with seven points. Spot Valley got their consolation goal from Darzen Hylton.
"Winning 5-1 is a pleasing result but we had the opportunity to score many more goals today," said Pastor Hugh Solomon, the coach of the St James High team. "It is nice to be among the teams sharing the lead in the zone."
In another Zone A game, Cornwall College handed Maldon a 1-0 defeat courtesy of a well-taken goal by Mikhail Weatherly, the son of team coach Dr Dean Weatherly. The win means Cornwall College now have two wins and a draw from their three games.
In their game, St James took the lead in the 14th minute when Barrett fired home a cross from Barker. Barker made it 2-0 ten minutes later when he struck home a savage shot from 40 yards. A minute later, Myrie broke free before goal and fired accurately, making the score 3-0.
Exciting action
St James struck nine minutes into the second half when Morris curled in a free kick from 25 yards and then added another in the 74th minute, waltzing past three defenders before leaving the goalkeeper on his back and then firing home.
When the competition resumes this afternoon, with 39 games spanning 10 of the 12 competing zones, fans should be in for some exciting action as a number of the top teams, including reigning champions Garvey Maceo, will be on show.
While most of the games are considered important in light of the jostling for the two places which will ensure qualification for the competition's inter-zone phase, some games hold special significance in light of the current standings.
In Zone B, the contest between leaders Rusea's (nine) and third-place Anchovy (six) should be closely watched. While a win for the 'Russians' would see them stay atop the zone, a defeat would not only see Anchovy join them on nine points but would open the door for newcomers Hopewell (seven) to move past them with a win against the struggling Knockalva (0).
The Zone E game between third-place Maggotty (six) and surprise leaders Lacovia (10) should be quite interesting as both teams are gunning to upstage perennial zone kingpins St Elizabeth Technical and Munro College.
Zone B
Merlene Ottey vs Frome at Merlene Ottey
Rusea's vs Anchovy at Rusea's
Hopewell vs Knockalva at Hopewell
Zone C
Maud McLeod vs Grange Hill at Maud McLeod
Godfrey Stewart vs Petersfield at Petersfield
Zone D
A. Gallimore vs Ocho Rios at Addison Park
York Castle vs Cedric Titus at York Castle
Zone E
Black River vs B.B. Coke at Black River
Balaclava vs STETHS at Balaclava
Maggotty vs Lacovia at Maggotty.
Zone F
Porus vs Bellefield at Porus
Manchester vs Belair at Porus Community Centre
Cross Keys vs Decarteret at Cross Keys
Zone G
Edwin Allen vs Spalding at Edwin Allen
Knox vs Christiana at Knox
Holmwood vs Mile Gully at Holmwood
Zone H
Vere vs Clarendon at Vere
Denbigh vs Lennon at Denbigh
Zone I
Tacius Golding vs Kemps Hill at Soya Oval
Old Harbour vs Garvey Maceo Old Harbour
Central High vs Glenmuir at Central High
Zone J
Ewarton vs Charlemont at Ewarton
Bog Walk vs Dinthill at Bybrook Sports Club
Glengoffe vs McGrath at Sligoville Complex
Zone L (a)
Buff Bay vs Titchfield at Lynch Park
Port Antonio vs Fair Prospect at Port Antonio
Zone L (b)
St Thomas vs Robert Lightbourne at Eastern Banana
Morant Bay vs Paul Bogle at York Oval
Yallahs vs Seaforth at Phillips Field.
YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
Zone A
Green Pond 4 Herbert Morrison 4
Cornwall College 1Maldon 0
St James 5 Spot Valley 1
Zone K
St Mary High 2 Oracabessa 1
Iona 1 Brimmervale 0
St Mary Tech 3 Islington 0
Annotto Bay 2 Tacky 1
