Adrian Frater, News Editor
Cornwall College's Odane Edwards (left) battles with Glenmuir's goalscorer, John Ross-Doyley, in yesterday's daCosta Cup semi-final at Jarrett Park. Ross-Doyley scored all three goals in Glenmuir's 3-2 win. - Photo by Adrian Frater
WESTERN BUREAU: CHAMPIONS GLEMUIR and the Ben Francis KO winners Garvey Maceo made the final of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup an all-Clarendon affair yesterday when they beat Cornwall College and Rusea's, respectively in the semis.
In a hard-fought contest at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay, the resolute Jackie Walters-coached Glenmuir, behind a hat-trick from the classy John Ross-Doyley, scored a 3-2 extra-time win against Cornwall College after the teams battled to 2-2 regulation time score.
"We knew that Cornwall College were almost invincible at Jarrett Park but my players knew what was required of them and they went out and did it," said Walters.
"The players fought all the way and in the end we got the result we wanted. I think we got it tactically right," he said.
Took the lead
After looking the better of the two teams offensively in the early exchanges, Glenmuir took the lead in the 33rd minute when Ross-Doyley breached the Cornwall College defence and booted the ball in the net. Cornwall College pulled level five minutes inside the second half when Mikhail Weatherley scored directly from a corner kick.
Glenmuir regained the lead in the 56th minute when Ross-Doyley capitalised on a blunder by goalkeeper David Watson and crashed home from close range, making the score 2-1.
However, Cornwall College pulled themselves back into the contest when Radcliff Hall's perfect header sailed passed the Glenmuir custodian, making the regulation time score 2-2.
Down into the first period of extra-time, Glenmuir got the all-important clincher when goalkeeper Watson handled the ball just outside the penalty area. Ross-Doyley completed his hat-trick with a perfect free kick which gave the goalkeeper no chance and made the final score 3-2.
"We made some silly mistakes but we can't be too hard on the boys because the average age of the team is 15," said Cornwall College's coach, Dr. Dean Weatherly. "We can't take anything away from Glenmuir they played a very good game."
Kept on course
At St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), Garvey Maceo kept themselves firmly on course for the rural double when two first-half goals by the prolific Aston Bennett, who lifted his season tally to 37, gave them a 2-0 win.
"We did our homework and basically came here and executed our plans and got the desired result," said Garvey Mace's coach, Jeffrey Hewitt. "With one title for the season so far, we are extremely confident that we are good enough to complete the double," he said.
Rusea's coach, Anthony 'Follies' Williams, was philosophical in defeat stating: "At this level, if you continue to miss easy chances and then turn around and give up soft goals it is unlikely that you will win."
