Cornwall workmanlike against St James

Many-time champions Cornwall College remained perfect at home after defeating St James High 2-0 in the opening game of the second round of the ISSA daCosta Cup at the Cornwall College playfield yesterday.

Cornwall College’s Shakeem Gibson opened the scoring in the 30th minute before Carlondo Morris sealed the victory with a strike in the 64th minute.

Cornwall coach Leacroft Lettman said the primary focus was restoring the players’ confidence and getting them back into a winning mentality following their Walker Cup defeat.

“Well, we came off a defeat against Manchester, and we organised the boys and got them back into game mode. It was important to get them back to a winning mentality, and that was a plus,” said Lettman.

“We have to keep the team organised going forward for the next upcoming game,” added Lettman.

Meanwhile, St James coach Bryan Stoney said his players battled hard despite the pressure of playing away from home.

“Knowing that we are at Cornwall’s field, they were hungry for the win after being beaten recently. We didn’t play according to our training plan, and it definitely affected us today,” said Stoney.

“We made a few mistakes, but we did fight in a high-pressure game,” added Stoney.

In the eagerly anticipated contest, Gibson dribbled past several defenders before firing home in the 30th minute to give Cornwall the lead.

After the break, Morris outmuscled his marker before powering the ball into the net in the 64th minute, sparking celebrations among the home supporters.

In another game, defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) opened their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Maggotty High, while Glenmuir High hammered Yallahs 9-0 to maintain their free-scoring form.

After suffering a 2-1 defeat to Manchester High in the Ben Francis Cup on Saturday, Manchester rebounded with a 7-1 victory over Edwin Allen High.

In Lucea, The Manning’s School clipped former champions Rusea’s High 2-1 on their home turf to pull off an upset.

Lacovia High began their inter-zone campaign with a 3-1 victory over Old Harbour High after missing out on that stage of the competition for nine years.

Yesterday’s results

STETHS 3-0 Maggotty

Frome 1-0 Irwin High

Holmwood 1-2 Munro College

Lacovia 3-1 Old Harbour

Glenmuir 9-0 Yallahs

Central 3-1 Ferncourt

Denbigh 1-1 Garvey Maceo

Mile Gully 2-0 St Mary

Dinthill 5-1 Morant Bay

Ocho Rios 2-1 Titchfield

Clarendon 7-0 Porus

Manchester 7-1 Edwin Allen

Rusea’s 1-2 Manning’s

Cornwall 2-0 St James

William Knibb 1-4 Brown’s Town