Former champions Cornwall College remained on course for a 12th hold on the ISSA/FLOW daCosta Cup title, following a 2-1 win over Clarendon College in a keenly contested semi-final encounter at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) yesterday.

Giovanni Reid in the seventh and substitute Aiden Jokomba in the 87th got the job done for the Montegonians, as they put the finishing touches on the final chapter in the story of the best CC in dramatic fashion.

Captain Creggton Charlton pulled one back for Clarendon College in the 85th.

Cornwall College will face the winner of the STETHS versus Lennon High semi-final, which will be played today at Manchester High in the final on December 3.

After their epic FLOW Super Cup semi-final clash at Sabina Park which Cornwall College won 4-2, both teams renewed their rivalry and the western Jamaica-situated team once again came out in the top end to secure their first daCosta Cup final berth since 2001.

It was also a record-breaking 17th-straight daCosta Cup victory for the Dr Dean Weatherly-conditioned team, as they bettered the previous run of 16 consecutive wins by Rusea’s High back in 2011.

Clarendon College, like they did in the first meeting, came out pressing and enjoyed the better of possession, but Cornwall College grabbed the ascendancy against the run of play when Reid headed home from a well-taken corner kick by Jourdaine Fletcher to notch his second goal of the season.

The score remained unchanged at the break as both teams failed to create any meaningful chance thereafter with most of the possession being shared in the middle of the park.

Cornwall College came out pressing on the resumption and briefly pinned down their opponents in their defensive quarters.

They went close to extending the lead on the hour mark, but custodian Benjamin Williams proved equal to Dwayne Harding’s close-range effort from a Garnet Hudson’s cross.

Clarendon College’s resurgence began in minute 75 when Nicque Daley got in behind Cornwall’s backline but was hesitant in pulling the trigger — he was later robbed of possession by a recovering defender.

Cornwall’s response a minute later through Fletcher was quick and near precise, as the prolific left-footed player fended off the challenge of two defenders before releasing a powerful shot from an angle which rocketed off the upright.

Fletcher again was presented with another opportunity to get on the score sheet but his effort from a 20-yard free kick just sailed over the crossbar.

The deceptive Jokomba made an immediate impact after replacing Hudson in the attack as he slipped by a marker and got a shot off but failed to beat the glove of a diving Williams.

Williams’ brilliance turned out to be crucial as the Chapelton-based team was back on level terms shortly after when Charlton was assisted by Shande James to beat Jomario Hines at his near post from a close-range effort.

However, their celebrations were short-lived as young Jokomba popped up two minutes later to capitalise on a defensive error by slotting home from deep inside the area to put Cornwall 2-1 up.

The goal sparked an outburst from the Clarendon College camp, with coach Paul “Tegat” Davis facing Assistant Referee Princess Brown appealing for an offside call. He was subsequently ejected from the bench by Referee Dameon Parchment with three minutes remaining in the game.

Winning Coach Dr Dean Weatherly hailed the success of his team as a positive light for western Jamaica.

“It is a tremendous feeling and we are happy to be here because the hard work has finally paid off and this was something that we definitely needed.

“The Cornwall College community and western Jamaica on a whole needs it because there has been alot of negativity coming from that end of the island and we have to lift up the whole positive attitude of the community. So, our confidence is high and we cannot let go right now,” he told the Jamaica Observer in a post-game interview.

Meanwhile, Richard Palmer, manager of Clarendon College, took a jab at the officiating.

“Poor officiating and I think we need better officiating. The last goal was a clear offside and it cannot continue like this. I don’t want to sound like a sore loser, but it is what it is. The team played well until the referee interfered with the game,” he lamented.