Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
McGrath High goalkeeper Roshane Stanford fails to stop a rocketed free kick from Mario Francis of Bog Walk (not in picture ) going into the net, during their Pepsi/Jamaica National daCosta Cup match at the Tru Juice/Nestle field yesterday. Bog Walk won 1-0. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
IT TOOK a strike for Bog Walk to get by McGrath 1-0 in Group J action of the Pepsi/Jamaica National daCosta Cup competition at the Tru Juice/Nestle field in Bybrook yesterday.
The match began in controversial circumstances as McGrath's Owen Barker was sent off in the fifth minute by referee Basil Salmon for striking an opponent.
That should have put McGrath on the back foot but that was not the case. In fact, Bog Walk were not able to capitalise until the 74th minute when Mario Francis whipped a powerful free kick past unfortunate goalkeeper Roshane Stanford.
Stanford had only just come on for the injured Ripton English and his first bit of action for the game was to retrieve the ball from the back of the net.
GOAL ENERGISED HOME TEAM
The goal energised the home team and it began to press against a tiring McGrath but failed to extend its lead.
The win sees Bog Walk now second in Group J as in the day's other game, a double by Dwight Wilson (76th and 83rd minutes) and a 25th minute strike by Omar Rose gave group leaders Old Harbour a 3-0 victory over Charlemont.
In action from the day's other group, a single goal by Fabian Walker helped Annotto Bay to a 1-0 victory over Tacky; St Mary Tech got by Islington 1-0; while Brimmervale defeated Iona 3-0.
Group J: Bog Walk 1, McGrath 0; Charlemont 0, Old Harbour 3.
Group K: Iona 0, Brimmervale 3; Tacky 0, Annotto Bay 1; Islington 0, St Mary Technical 1.
