Charlemont sanction keeps Dinthill alive

The last game day of the group stage of the ISSA/WATA DaCosta Cup gets under way at 3:30 this afternoon with 33 games across all 15 groups.

Group K games that were believed to be dead rubbers a few days ago have now become significant. Last season's semi-finalists Dinthill Technical High School, who could only manage two drawn results from five games so far, were believed to be eliminated from the competition but have been handed a lifeline following Charlemont being found guilty of using an ineligible player in both head to head encounters.

"The Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association's disciplinary committee ruled that Charlemont High was found guilty of using an ineligible player in the DaCosta Cup football matches against Dinthill Tech played on Saturday, September 21, 2019, and Saturday, October 5, 2019," ISSA said in a press release on Wednesday.

Dinthill Tech have been awarded the games with a score of 3-0 margin and three points for each game and now sit second in the group with seven points, three more than Charlemont who will need a massive win over Enid Bennett High (four points) and hope Dinthill lose to group leaders McGrath High (13 points).

Dinthill coach Xavier Gilbert says he is sympathetic to Charlemont but he's however grateful for the opportunity to make one last push for a second-round spot.

"It's not the way we wanted to advance, however, we don't have any control over what took place," Gilbert said. "We are grateful to have a chance to go through.

"We definitely, want to see if we can kick-start our winning streak with a win [today]. I don't think we have been playing badly, the result just aren't coming our way and there are lapses in concentration."

Charlemont principal Garth Gayle said it will be a difficult and slim chance of advancing to the second round but he's hoping they can defy the odds.

"The group is a very tight one with only four teams," he said. "The likelihood that one advancing after suffering the faith that we did is difficult. For me, I would want the players to go out there and enjoy their last fixture game of the first round. If the results should go in our favour, then I thank the Lord."