Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
St. Andrew's Kabari Palmer (left) and St. Catherine's Tyrone Thompson tussle for a ball during their JFF Pepsi Under-15 encounter at the Constant Spring Complex yesterday. St. Andrew joined St. Catherine in competition's semi-finals, courtesy of 1-1 draw. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A 1-1 STALEMATE between St. Andrew and St. Catherine at Constant Spring yesterday saw the KSAFA team clinch its place in the semi-finals of the JFF Pepsi Under-15 football competition.
A tough, physical game saw the sides neutralise each other and, for the unbiased spectator, 1-1 seemed to be a fair result. Having lost to St. Catherine 2-1 the last time they encountered each other, St. Andrew were determined not to be breached and took no prisoners in their approach to keeping the visitors at bay.
St. Catherine were, however, not in the least bit intimidated and they played their own brand of enforcer football as they were determined not to give away their first-leg advantage. But with neither team willing to budge, it was St. Catherine who seemed to have the game won when a lovely weighted through ball released striker Nickque White on goal.
GAVE GOALKEEPER NO CHANCE
Just as he had done against Hanover in the previous week, White carefully picked his spot to give St. Andrew goalkeeper Diego Haughton no chance and put his team ahead in the 60th minute.
However, St. Andrew got their chance a few minutes later when a ball was deemed to be handled in the 18-yard box by referee Braxton Hyre.
Despite the ardent protests of the St. Catherine team he pointed to the penalty spot. Keithy Simpson then stepped up and equalised in the 76th minute to give his team a share of the points and a place in semi-finals.
The draw keeps St. Catherine at the top of the zone with 13 points - three ahead of St. Andrew. In the Zone B's other game, Portland welcomed the return of top striker Dever Orgil as he smashed in four goals to give them a 4-1 win over bottom of the table Hanover. But it is a little too late for Portland as they are now four points behind St Andrew with only a game left in the round.
Elsewhere, Clarendon and Kingston played to a 0-0 draw at Wembley, keeping things very much the same at the top of Zone B. However, a 5-0 hammering of the winless St. Mary at the Elliston Wakeland Centre now puts St. Thomas level with Clarendon on seven points which leaves the teams to battle for the last semi-final spot when they encounter each other in the final fixture of the round.
