Rusea's win again but concede first goal

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau: Champions Rusea's High, the runaway leader in Zone B, continued their winning ways in the 2011 ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup yesterday afternoon but, in the process, had their defence breached for the first time in scoring a 5-1 win against Green Island, the team they whipped 10-0 on the competition's opening day.

With the win, the 'Russians', who scored through Brian 'Rambo' Brown (2), Demar Doeman, Tiano Williams and substitute Jovan James, lifted their points tally to maximum 21 from their seven games. Leonardo Campbell got the goal for Green Island. Rusea's now have a record of 43 goals for and one against.

"It was another good win for us but the players are a little bit disappointed that they gave up a goal," said Rusea's coach, Anthony 'Follies' Williams.

In another game in Zone B, second-place Frome strengthened their bid for an inter-zone place, scoring a 5-2 win against Maldon to lift their points tally to 18 - six wins and one defeat from seven games.

In Zone F, the battle for supremacy remains a neck-and-neck affair. St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Munro College, who both entered the round tied on points, both registered good wins to remain tied atop the standings on 19 points. STETHS, behind three goals by Glen Sinclair, had a 6-0 win against Balaclava while Munro stopped Black River 2-0.

Over in the tight Zone E, Grange Hill regained their lead as while they had a big 5-0 win against Little London, their main rivals Manning's, the leaders coming into the round, had to settle for a 2-2 draw against former champions Godfrey Stewart High School. Grange Hill now lead the group with 15 points with Manning's coming next on 14.

In Zone G, Manchester High widened their lead atop the group, spanking Mile Gully 7-0 to move up to 18 points. Spaldings traded second place with Knox College after coming away with a 2-0 win in their much-anticipated clash. The win, their fourth in eight games, moved Spaldings to 14 points while Knox remain at 12.

Edwin Allen continue to show the way in Zone H, turning back Thompson Town 2-0 to stay atop the group with 21 points. Last year's beaten finalists, Lennon High, remain in second place after their 2-1 win against Alston, which move them up to 19 points. Third-place Claude Mckay also kept themselves in the hunt with a 3-2 win over Porus. They are now on 12 points.

In Zone A, where front-runners St James High had a day off and Cornwall College had their game against Spot Valley rained out, Green Pond notched their third win of the season, surprising William Knibb 2-1. The win moves Green Pond to nine points while William Knibb stay on six.

Yesterday's results

Zone A

Green Pond 2 William Knibb 1

Cornwall vs Spot Valley (rain out)

Zone B

Frome 5 Maldon 2

Rusea's 5 Green Island 1

Zone E

Grange Hill 5 Little London 0

Petersfield 3 Maud McLeod 2

Godfrey Stewart 2 Manning's 2

Zone F

STETHS 6 Balaclava 0

Munro 2 Black River 0

Zone G

Bellefield 2 Holmwood 1

Spaldings 2 Knox 0

Manchester 7 Mile Gully 0

Zone H

Lennon 2 Alston 1

Claude McKay 3 Porus 2

Edwin Allen 2 Thompson Town 0

Zone I

Vere 0 Garvey Maceo 0