Manchester High booked their place in the semi-finals of the daCosta Cup schoolboy competition for the first time ever after rallying to defeat Marcus Garvey Technical 2-1 at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

With elimination staring them in the face, Jason Johnson and substitute Dave Morgan notched crucial last-gasp goals to send fans into wild celebrations.

Manchester finished with six points, the same as Garvey Maceo and Spalding High, but clipped the latter by virtue of a superior goal difference.

Heading into the game, Manchester were aware they had to win and immediately settled into a smooth passing game against their less-fancied opponents who had already suffered defeats against Garvey Maceo and Spalding.

Manchester created the bulk of the chances and also had the larger share of possession in the first half, but could have easily gone behind to Marcus Garvey had it not been for goalkeeper Michael Parcells, who made two good blocks just before the break.

Marcus Garvey showed more attacking ambition in the second half and went ahead when the busy Garfield Stewart neatly side-footed a left-sided square past Parcells in the 56th minute.

Manchester then missed a host of chances before Johnson in the 89th and Morgan in the 90th saved the day.

Winning coach Barry Watson said he was happy to be in the semi-final and promised his team would be pushing hard to reach the final.

– Sanjay Myers