Cornwall reclaim Jackson Shield

Western Bureau:Cornwall College, the daCosta Cup's most successful team, gave their fans a taste of what can be expected in the upcoming schoolboy football season when they clipped Munro College 1-0 in their annual Jackson Shield clash in Montego Bay, last weekend.

"It was a good performance by the boys and I am most encouraged by what I saw," said Hopeton Gilchrist, the new coach of Cornwall College. "We will be doing some fine-tuning in the upcoming days and I am sure we will be ready for our first game against Spot Valley."

The winners of the shield, which is decided by two games - one featuring the daCosta Cup boys and the other the schools' Over-35 teams - was actually sealed by the Cornwall Over-35 team which spanked their Munro counterparts 6-0 in the day's second game to reclaim the title Munro won last year.

"This rivalry between Munro and Cornwall College dates back to 1950 when the daCosta Cup started," said former national player Allan Aaron, who played on the Cornwall College team. "It is always a pleasure to help keep this rivalry alive and renew old acquaintances."

In the game between the daCosta Cup boys, both teams played well in patches. However, the strikers on both sides were not as sharp as they could have been and a number of good scoring opportunities were wasted.

Five minutes into the game, Lenworth Pryce should have given Munro the lead when he went high for a cross, but he directed his header straight at Cornwall's goalkeeper Levano Lewis. A minute later, Cornwall College also came close when Pedro Blake broke free but fired over the crossbar from six yards.

Chance squandered

Towards the end of the half, Blake squandered yet another chance for Cornwall, when he took a neat pass from Oshani Walker but side-footed on to the left upright. The ball was subsequently cleared by the relieved Munro defence.

The second half was fast-paced and exciting with both teams creating and wasting good chances. Munro should have scored in the 52nd minute when Amin Miller took a rebound before the goal but surprisingly fired high over the crossbar.

Midway the half, Cornwall College got the game's only goal. In the 73rd minute, Oniel Robinson won possession inside the goal area and calmly slotted past the advancing goalkeeper Akeem Forbes.

In the Over-35 game, Cornwall made light work of their opponents as after taking a 2-0 half-time lead, they turned on the pressure in the second half, scoring four more goals to leave their opponents soundly beaten. Cheddi Johnson (two), Seymour Martin, Troy Campbell, Delton Clarke and Allan Aarons were the goalscorers for the Montego Bay team.