D Cup D-day

Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:

The three teams that will join Spalding High in the semi-finals of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup schoolboy football competition will be decided this afternoon following the playing of the final round of quarter-final games, which are all slated for three o'clock starts.

The fixture for the games read as follows: Group One - Ben Francis Knockout champions St James against Frome Technical and Lennon versus St Thomas Technical, and, in Group Two, Spaldings High against Dinthill Technical and Rusea's versus Lacovia High.

Could advance

While their Group Two game against Dinthill Technical (1) holds very little significance for the already-qualified Spaldings (6), should the Dinthill team win by a comfortable margin, they could advance as the group's second qualifier, if the other group match between Rusea's (3) and Lacovia High (1) ends in a draw.

As things are at present, a win for Spaldings would end Dinthill's campaign and leave Rusea's only needing to avoid defeat against Lacovia to make the semi-finals.

However, a big victory for the Lacovia would see them defying the odds and joining Spaldings in the last four.

For Rusea's, which suffered their first defeat of the season to Lacovia High, a 1-0 Ben Francis KO loss, this is perhaps an opportunity for sweet revenge.

However, having had that win against the 'Russians', the Lacovia team must fancy their chances of repeating, albeit on a Jarrett Park turf where Rusea's have been invincible this season.

"Our sole mission is to make the semi-finals and that is our primary consideration," said Anthony 'Follies' Williams, Rusea's coach. "Our ultimate aim is to win our ninth daCosta Cup title."

In Group One, except for the out-of-contention Frome Technical (0), it is a wide open affair for the group's two places as joint leaders St James High (4) and Lennon (4), as well as the resurgent St Thomas Technical (3), all have a good chance of advancing.

start as favourite

St James, whose only defeat of the season was their 3-2 inter-zone loss to Frome, should start favourites as with Frome out of contention, it is unlikely that they will be as highly motivated.

In addition, having beaten the tough St Thomas Technical 1-0 in St Thomas and then drawing 0-0 with the ominous-looking Lennon High, St James High, whose prolific scoring pair of Nicholi Barett (20) and Allan Ottey (18) seem unstoppable, could make it a miserable afternoon for Frome.

Lennon, who have upgraded their status from 'darkhorse' to legitimate contender based on recent form, should provide St Thomas with a stern test.

While Lennon looked quite accomplished in beating Frome 3-1 and drawing 0-0 with St James in their backyard at Jarrett Park, St Thomas showed a lot of character in beating Frome 2-0 after their 1-0 loss to St James and is clearly a team that is not yet ready to bow out of contention.

Frome versus St James @ STETHS

Lennon vs St Thomas @ Jamalco Sports Club

Rusea's vs Lacovia @ Jarrett Park

Spaldings vs Dinthill @ Manchester High