Gallant Cornwall hang tough

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Cornwall College, the competition's most successful team, rallied back from two goals down yesterday afternoon to earn a 2-2 draw against Spot Valley and rescued their bid to earn a place in the inter-zone round of the 2010 ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup.

In a Zone A fixture, which was played at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay, Spot Valley took a quick 2-0 lead courtesy of a double-strike by Travis Dolphy.

However, Cornwall struck back through goals from Odaine Edwards and Nickyle Webber to keep their slim chance of advancing alive.

With St James High School sealing the first of the group's two inter-zone places with a 2-0 win against William Knibb, which lifted them to unassailable 20 points, the race for the other place is now between Spot Valley (14), Cornwall College (13) and Muschett (12). Muschett drew 2-2 with Green Pond in their game.

First accomplishment

"We have now accomplished our first hurdle, which is to qualify for the inter-zone round," said an elated St James High School coach Pastor Hugh Solomon. "However, we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent as this is just one part of our mission."

Over in Zone F, Munro College joined champions St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) as the qualifiers from their group after blanking Lacovia High School 2-0 to move up to 22 points. STETHS kept their place atop the standings with a 5-0 win against Mile Gully, which lifted them to 23 points.

The competition will continue this afternoon with a full slate of matches in Zones G, Zone H and J alongside the rescheduled Zone B match between leader Rusea's, who have already secured their inter-zone place and Herbert Morrison, who are still in the hunt.

Today's Games

Zone G: Spalding vs Knox at Knox, Christiana vs Porus at Christiana, Alston vs Cross Keys at Kabbla

Zone H: Clarendon College vs Claude McKay at Chapelton, Thompson Town vs Vere at Thompson Town

Zone J: McGrath vs Bog Walk at McGrath, Ewarton vs Charlemont at Ewarton

Yesterday's results

Zone A: Cornwall College bt Spot Valley 2-2, Muschett vs Green Pond 2-2, St James bt William Knibb 2-0

Zone B: Frome bt Maldon 3-0

Zone C: Marcus Garvey bt Cedric Titus 1-0

Zone D: Annotto Bay bt Iona 1-0, St Mary Tech bt Brimmervale 4-0, St Mary High bt Islington 4-0

Zone E: Mannings bt Maud Mcleod 5-0, Godfrey Stewart bt Little London 3-0

Zone F: Munro bt Lacovia 2-0, STETHS bt Mile Gully 5-0

Zone I: Garvey Maceo bt Central 6-0, Denbigh bt Tacius Golding 1-0, Glenmuir bt Kemps Hill 1-0

Zone K: Titchfield bt Happy Grove 1-0

Zone L: St Thomas Tech bt Yallahs 4-0

Paul Bogle bt R'Lightbourne 9-0