Bridgeport, Eltham in semis

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Bridgeport and Eltham High schools secured their spot in the semi-finals of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Walker Cup KO football competition, following contrasting victories over St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) and Excelsior High, respectively, at the Spanish Town Prison Oval in St Catherine yesterday.

The Anthony Patrick-coached Bridgeport defeated STATHS 2-0. Kenrick Preston netted both goals for the Portmore-based Bridgeport in the 17th and 31st minutes.

Meanwhile, Eltham beat Excelsior 4-3 on penalties, after both teams had played to a 0-0 full and extra-time draw.

Canniggia Johnson, Jason Wallace, Ramiz Gordon and Damion Binns scored penalty kicks for Eltham.

Missed penalty kicks

Juvane Benjamin and Brian Richards missed penalty kicks for the Leebert Halliman-coached Excelsior, as captain Neco Brett, Lyndell Reid and Kevin Blackwood scored from the spot.

Bridgeport's Patrick was very pleased with his team's performance.

"I think that we played well today, despite having to play a game in the boiling sun at 1 o'clock," said Patrick, whose team won their last Walker Cup title in 2001.

Gregory Allen, coach of Eltham, who last won the Walker Cup title in 2006, said: "My guys were disciplined today and that is one of the most important things. They also followed our instructions and they played well and I am really happy for the victory."

He added: "Our plan was to stay behind the ball as much as possible, and we did that today, because they played a team game and we were able to come out at the victors."

Allen added: "The penalty kicks could have gone either way, but I am very happy that we were able to come out on atop."

Halliman was disappointed, saying his team wasted its opportunities.

"I think that we got our chances and we didn't make use of them," said Halliman.

"I knew that Eltham are very good at penalty kicks because in the last four years they have been beating us...," Halliman said.

The first half was evenly contested with both teams creating a number of clear chances. Brett and Richards squandered wide-open chances for Excelsior, while at the other end, Binns and Gordon failed to put away goalmouth opportunities for Eltham.

Both teams failed to create any meaningful scoring chances in the second period, as tactical changes by both coaches after the interval resulted in both sides cancelling out each other on practically every possession.

Canniggia received Eltham's chance in the extra-time period, but after collecting a through pass from Morant inside the 18-yard box and with goalkeeper Jonah Morgan at his mercy, his powerful shot went wide of the target.

The second set of semi-final games will be played today at the same venue, with defending champions Jamaica College opposing St George's College at 1 p.m. and Norman Manley tackling Waterford at 3 p.m.