St James can win cup - Solomon

While Cornwall College, and to a lesser extent Ruseas's High, remain flag bearers for the west, there is little doubt that in recent years St James High have emerged the danger team to scout, and fear. Coached by Hugh Solomon, the team known previously as 'Senior' school made the cut for the first time to the inter-zone in 2007.

The following year, they rolled over their rivals to win the double, and despite suffering a 1-0 loss early in group action last year to Cornwall - a defeat which they eventually avenged in controversial circumstances - they looked good to retain the title until they were cut down via the penalty route in a tough semi-final by Manchester High at Jarrett Park.

This year, if there were doubts about their quality to win, those were decisively removed after their tremendous showing last weekend in Santa Cruz to win the STETHS Cup. Minutes into that tourna-ment's kick-off against Corporate Area team Bridgeport High, and perhaps unsure how his team would fare, Solomon quietly told The Gleaner:

"I would be satisfied with (just) finding the right chemistry ... hoping the guys can fit in the various positions. We haven't played as a team against anyone ... we used mainly juniors in the practice games we've had. This is really the first game we are having with what you would call our top players."

Before long, the clear advantage of having Allan Ottey and Ricardo Morris - two players who were away on preseason training with Village United - was clearly shown, as they were literally at Bridgeport's throat.

By half-time it was 3-1. They had other quality players in Cion Peterkin and Alwyn Barrett, who would later emerge as the tournament's top midfielder. As the game wore on, Solomon expressed the odd concern about the cohesion of the defence that no longer has the services of the outstanding John Barrett, but Peterkin would eventually score twice in a 4-2 win to keep his mood upbeat.

Acid test

The acid test would come the next day against the defending champ-ions, who had to dig deep while leaving it late to defeat Garvey Maceo 1-0. But Solomon at that stage could hardly hide admitting he had greater ambitions than just winning the STETHS Cup.

"Of course we can win the cup," was his stern response to the pointed question, while adding:

"If we keep focussed and play as a team, we should do very well."

Not to be missed was the emphasis the soft-spoken coach placed on 'well', and that pledge looked far more convincing when on a Peterkin first-half goal and a Joel Malcolm second-half hat-trick they cut down a highly motivated STETHS side 4-1.

There is much more, he thinks, will be added to the team's armoury when three players - Daniel Foote, Randy Myrie and Keneil Kirlew - are included. His main marksman, Ottey, did not score in two matches at the weekend, but Solomon believes his fans have nothing to worry about when he reports to the firing line for the team's first game against Spot Valley next Saturday, during the daCosta Cup kick-off ceremony slated for Jarrett Park.

The team is likely to play other practice games, but for him the STETHS win highlighted the key strengths he will be looking to bank on in reclaiming the titles he won in 2008.

"The STETHS game was an even better one for us. We were more composed going into attack and far more organised defensively. It's just for the other guys to come in. We have what we can build on to do well in the competition," Solomon added.