Lennon, St James defy odds to reach semis
MONTEGO BAY, St James — St James High and Lennon defied the odds to book a place in the semi-finals of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup schoolboy competition with wins yesterday as the quarter-final round ended.
Both teams, who needed a win, finished runners-up in their respective groups behind defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) and Rusea’s, who also won.
STETHS beat Glenmuir 2-1 to top Group One with seven points, two more than St James, who hammered Marcus Garvey 4-0.
Rusea’s beat Old Harbour 3-1 to win Group two with seven points, as Lennon edged Garvey Maceo 1-0 for second.
In next Saturday’s semi-finals, STETHS will face Lennon in one game, while Rusea’s and St James will meet in the other.
After drawing their previous two games, St James got two goals each from Jason Malcolm — who missed the last game — and Allan Ottey, to book their place in their third consecutive semi-final.
The teams shared four goals when they last met at Jarrett Park two weeks ago, but this time it was St James who scored all four in a game that was fiercely contested.
Malcolm gave St James the best ever start when he powered in a rebound from goalkeeper Roberto Scott after just two minutes.
Malcolm hit the base of the left post in the 14th minute with Scott well beaten and could only watch as the ball flew across the goal, just missing the other post.
Yesterday’s results: St James 4 Marcus Garvey 0; Rusea’s 3 Old Harbour 1; STETHS 2 Glenmuir 1; Lennon 1 Garvey Maceo 0