Wed | Jul 8, 2026

George's win

Published:Sunday | September 12, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Gavin Burton (left) of Lacovia High School holds off a challenge from STETHS' Levaughn Baker during yesterday's ISSA-Pepsi-Digicel daCosta Cup schoolboy football match at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay. The game ended in a 1-1 draw - photo by Adrian Frater

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau: Reigning Manning Cup champions, St George's College, started the defence of the ISSA-Pepsi-Digicel Manning Cup title in fine style yesterday, clipping St Jago High School 2-1 as the 2010 schoolboy football season started with a triple-header at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay.

However, while St George's left Jarrett Park happy, their rural counterparts, daCosta Cup champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), had less to be happy about as they were held to a 1-1 draw in their season opener against Lacovia High.

In their game, which was a hard-fought contest, it took a last-minute strike to give the Neville 'Bertis' Bell-coached St George's victory as St Jago, which turned in a gutsy performance, looked likely to hang on for a draw.

St George's goals came courtesy of Kareem Manning in the 20th minute and Romario Jones in the 90th, while St Jago's goal came from Romario Constant in the 63rd minute.

happy for the win

"We thank God for this win. We did not play as well as we could, but I believe we deserved to win the game," said Bell, whose team is seeking three consecutive Manning Cup titles.

He added: "Last year, we started the season with a draw, so we are happy for this win."

In their game against Lacovia, which had very few bright sparks, the STETHS team had to rally from a goal down to get a share of the points.

After a goalless first half, the wily Jermaine Seaton fired Lacovia into the lead in the 73rd minute. However, STETHS pulled level three minutes later when Romero Thompson nodded home from close range.

"This is not the kind of start we were hoping for in terms of points," said Andrew Edwards, the coach of STETHS. "Some of the players failed to measure up and we will need to have them focused and ready for our next game."

For Lacovia's coach, Errol White, whose team is made up mostly of newcomers, they did enough to have won the game.

"The performance was very encouraging, the boys played quite well," said White. "With a little more experience in the team, we might have held on for the win."

He added: "We are happy with the result."