Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Horace Maxwell (right) of the All-daCosta Cup team climbs high as he tries to control the ball ahead of a Trinidad and Tobago All-Schools opponent during yesterday's match at the Jamalco Sports Club in Clarendon. The match ended 1-1. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

THE ALL-daCosta Cup team continued Jamaica's dominance over Trinidad and Tobago despite sharing the spoils against an All-schools team from the twin-island republic at Jamalco Sports Club yesterday.

In the match, which ended 1-1, Glenmuir and national Under-17 player James Thomas opened the scoring in the 23rd minute for the All-daCosta Cup team. Trinidad and Tobago equalised from the penalty spot through Elijah Manners in the 82nd minute. The All-Manning Cup boys on Monday ran away 2-1 winners and the combined results kept the Jamaican schoolboys undefeated since the reintroduction of the series in 2003.

Unsettled

In a very slow opening 20 minutes, a period which saw both teams looking unsettled, not even one shot was on target.

And it wasn't any surprise when Thomas failed to score from within the six-yard box. Though finding himself unmarked in the six-yard box, his weak shot was deflected.

However, he made up for the mistake 12 minutes later. Still, despite the brilliance of his shot, the half ended with few exciting moments.

The second half started at a much faster pace but, despite the excitement, All-daCosta Cup captain Ashton Bennett made a mess of a brilliant pass he received from midfield, firing wide of the target from inside the box.

From then on, Trinidad and Tobago took over the game and made several surges to goal but, like their opponents, they too watched all their shots ending up high or wide.

They, however, got one on target but Jerome Williams' well-directed shot was well saved.

Williams, again, three minutes later, had another shot pushed wide by the keeper.

Trinidad and Tobago's second-half dominance finally paid off in the 82nd minute when Ricardo Allen handled the ball inside the box, resulting in a penalty which saw Manners make no mistake from the spot.

Missed at close range

In the dying moments of the game, substitute Damarli Samuels should have scored the winner for the All-daCosta Cup team but he headed wide from inside the six-yard box. A minute later, teammate Draion McNain also missed from close range.

Jeffrey Hewitt, coach of the All-daCosta Cup team, said he was satisfied with the team's performance, because "we only had a couple of hours to prepare.

"We got together last night - so I think we did exceptionally well," he said.

Shawn Cooper, coach of the Trinidad and Tobago team, said it was an easy game for his boys while adding that it was unfortunate that they were returning home without the cup.

"We dominated the entire game," Cooper said. "In the first half, they had one shot, we had more ball possession but, against the run of play, they scored.

"We took over the entire game second half."

Cooper also said the All-Manning Cup team played better than its rural counterparts.