STETHS-Manchester final

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

It took extra time and sudden-death penalties to decide the games, but defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Manchester High have earned the right to contest this Saturday's Ben Francis Cup KO final after emerging victorious from yesterday's semi-final games.

STETHS defeated reigning daCosta Cup champions Rusea's in a penalty shoot-out, after they had battled to 1-1 regulation and extra-time stalemate. They shared four goals apiece in the first five penalties in their game at Jarrett Park, while Manchester High clipped Paul Bogle 1-0 through a goal scored in the first period of extra-time in their game at the Juici Patties Complex in Clarendon.

Regulation-time deadlock

In their much-hyped game at Jarrett Park, Rusea's took a first-half lead from the penalty spot through skipper Nicodie Haughton, but STETHS found a second-half equaliser through Levaughn Baker to end regulation-time play at 1-1.

"This win takes us one step closer to retaining our title and we are very pleased about that," said STETHS coach Andrew Edwards. "Our plan is to win all three titles (daCosta Cup, Ben Francis Cup and Olivier Shield) this season, and I believe we are on course."

In their game against Paul Bogle, the Manchester High team was held to a regulation-time 0-0 scoreline, but the deadlock was broken in the first period of extra time by Shealdo Parkes, who scored the game's lone goal in the 95th minute.

"Reaching this final is a very good feeling because we have been working very hard in our preparations," said Manchester High's coach, Sheldon Davis. "We will celebrate today, but it will be back to work tomorrow because we intend to be at our best in the final."