Innswood inch closer

Innswood High thrashed Edith Dalton James 5-1 to kept their slim hopes alive of advancing to the second round of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/ Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup in their Group E encounter at Chedwin Park yesterday.

The St Catherine-based Innswood were led to victory courtesy of a brace from Marshall Marsh in the 23rd and 70th minute. Danio Myers (43rd), Tavoy Morgan (53rd) and Dujon Williams (87th) were the other goalscorers for the Milford Thomas-coached Innswood. Substitute Ajuma Johnson scored the consolation goal for Edith Dalton James in the 81st minute.

The win has lifted Innswood to joint second place with Spanish Town on 17 points. Former champions and early qualifiers St George's College lead the group with 22 points. The group is completed by Tarrant (10), Meadowbrook (eight), and the pointless Edith Dalton James.

Innswood will oppose St George's in their final match on Saturday while Spanish Town will tackle Tarrant.

Thomas said he was very optimistic that his team could achieve the desired result which will take them through to the next round.

"I am confident that we can beat St George's to advance to the next round because I know that my team can do it," said Thomas. "This is definitely a good victory for us and we are very upbeat and looking forward to the clash against St George's College on Saturday," Thomas added.

Point-blank cross

Innswood outclassed their opponents from the opening whistle and were finally rewarded when Marsh tapped home a point-blank cross from Morgan. The fleet-footed Myers doubled Innswood's lead 20 minutes later, with a rasping 25-yard right-footed shot which went like a rocket past custodian Jason Wilson.

Morgan fired home his team's third goal of the match, when he outsprinted two Edith Dalton James' defenders to calmly slot the ball home past Wilson, who was advancing out of his goal. Williams sealed victory for Innswood when he netted his team's fifth goal three minutes from time.

Yesterday's results

Group E

Innswood 5 Edith Dalton James 1

Group G

St Mary's College 0 STATHS 1

Today's game

Cumberland vs St Jago