Clarendon, Garvey Maceo start d’Cup quarters best

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Clarendon College and Garvey Maceo were the biggest winners in the opening round of the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup quarterfinal football matches yesterday.

Clarendon, playing in what could have been a tricky encounter, romped to a 4-0 result against Christiana at the Manchester High School to lead Group A, while in Group B, Garvey Maceo had the same result against BB Coke.

Behind Clarendon in the standings are the ever-improving challengers Glenmuir High School, who were comfortable 2-0 winners over Manchester High at home.

Glenmuir got goals from Jason White in the 51st minute of play and Orane Watson in the 55th.

While the result was comfortable enough, Glenmuir could be said to have displayed a little profligacy in front of goal, with the game going scoreless throughout a dominant first half for the home side.

Manchester showed glimpses of a team that could compete, but in truth, those glimpses weren’t enough to trouble Glenmuir, though their coach, Andrew Peart, is wary.

Peart, who has seen his Glenmuir side win the first game of a quarterfinal round before and still fail to make the final four, is taking a measured approach this time around.

“We know exactly what to do. We have been in situations like these where we won the first game and never made it out, but I think this year, we are using those experiences. We are very driven, and I think we will be 100 per cent focused for the game against Christiana on Saturday,” said Peart.

The game was a scoreless encounter until a moment of brilliance broke the deadlock with White’s swerving free kick from 30 yards out beating goalkeeper Jovani Bennett all ends up.

As if still startled by the blinder of a goal, four minutes later, Bennett came to his near post but failed to negotiate a grounded drive from Watson. In truth, Bennett should never have been beaten from that angle. The mistake meant Manchester were beaten.

“After going 2-nil down, we showed a little more fight, a little more composure whenever we had the ball, and it showed us that we can play whenever we decide to play,” said a still optimistic Manchester coach, Patrick Graham.

“Unfortunately, we are down, but we have two games to go, and we just have to get back down there and prepare for those two games.”

Clarendon lead Group A with their three points and plus-four goal difference, followed by Glenmuir with plus two, while Manchester are third and Christiana fourth.

In Group B, where Garvey Maceo lead after their 4-0 thrashing of BB Coke, Dinthill are second, having left Cornwall College in the starting blocks with a 2-0 victory.

Cornwall College are third on goal difference ahead of BB Coke.

Yesterday’s results

Clarendon College 4-0 Christiana

Glenmuir 2-0 Manchester

BB Coke 0-4 Garvey Maceo

Dinthill 2-0 Corwall College