Manchester eliminate champions Glenmuir

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:  Defending champions Glen-muir High were sent packing from the 2010 Ben Francis Knockout schoolboy football competition yesterday afternoon, when they fell prey to last year's beaten daCosta Cup finalist, Manchester High, by a 2-1 margin in their quarter-final game at Jamalco.

In the other games yesterday, 2008 champion St James High brought Mannings back down to earth at Jarrett Park, spanking them 3-0, Zone L champions Paul Bogle created an upset when they surprised Old Harbour 2-1 at York Oval, while reigning daCosta Cup champions, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), blanked Marcus Garvey 2-0.

In their game against Glenmuir, Manchester, which started their campaign last week Thursday with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over the fancied Clarendon College, secured their win yesterday through goals from the prolific Junior Neil and Oral Johnson.

"It was a very good game. We took the lead and they equalised, but we struck back to secure victory," said Sheldon Davis, assistant coach of Manchester High. "It was a quality game but I thought we played the better football."

early setback

At Jarrett Park, the high-riding Mannings, fresh from their first round 2-1 win against Rusea's, suffered an early setback when Ricardo Morris fired St James High into the lead in the second minute and they never recovered. Further goals from a defender and Jason Malcolm gave St James their impressive margin of victory.

"We saw Mannings in their game against Rusea's and we decided that the best approach was to attack them early and we did and got an early goal," said Pastor Hugh Solomon, coach of St James High. "In the end, we had things pretty much our own way and could have gotten a few more goals."

At STETHS, the home team had things relatively easy, cutting down the Marcus Garvey team which had come into the game on a high after their first round 4-0 spanking of St Mary Technical High School.

Dravian Williams and Kevon Farquharson were the goalscorers for the Andrew Edwards-coached STETHS.

"It was a game that we dominated and should have won by a much wider margin," said Edwards. "They never really threatened us in any serious way throughout the game."

In the game at York Oval, the Paul Bogle team, which trailed 1-0 at half-time, rallied to upstage Old Harbour, which came into the game on a high after knocking off Buff Bay 1-0 in their first round game last week Thursday.

In the semi-finals slated for Wednesday, St James High will oppose STETHS, while Manchester High will take on Paul Bogle. Venues are yet to be decided.