SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — The betting at the St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) Sports Complex late Tuesday was that Clarendon College would win at least one Under-19 schoolboy football title this season.

Showing lovely first touch and precision passing at high tempo, Clarendon College outclassed Spot Valley High 4-0 in their ISSA/FLOW daCosta Cup quarter-final clash, leaving the crowd buzzing in admiration.

Nique Daley in the 38th and 74th minutes, and Lamar Walker in the 45th and 62nd found the net for Clarendon College. In fact, but for faulty shooting, the margin of victory would have been much, much wider.

The extent of Clarendon’s superiority was evident from the first few minutes, with Ricardo McIntosh and Walker hitting the crossbar with powerful shots and the former missing from close range.

Spot Valley were pinned in their own half for the great majority of the game as McIntosh, Walker, Daley, Shande James, Demano Phillips, Kevin Ankle et al charmed the crowd with deft dribbles and intricate combination play, facilitated by cushiony underfoot conditions on a cool afternoon.

The pressure finally told eight minutes from the half-time whistle when Daley slotted past a helpless goalkeeper Markino Buddal after slick passing through the middle opened up the Spot Valley defence.

Then on the stroke of half-time, James raced down the left, then cut inside leaving the Spot Valley defence wide open. His measured pass found Walker who slotted home from close range.

James was again the provider for the third goal, 17 minutes into the second half. This time he raced down the right and his squared pass found Daley charging through the middle to score.

Demano Phillips provided the fourth by weaving his way through the right side of the Spot Valley defence and crossing for Walker to chest home from close range.

Clarendon College coach Byjeon Thomas was “happy” with his team’s performance. “I am hoping we can stay consistent and be up to the challenge from the bigger teams,” he said.

Spot Valley High’s Assistant Coach Paul Bogle said his team “tried hard, but things didn’t work out”. He congratulated Clarendon College for their performance, claiming “they did well”.

In the first leg of a double-header, the Theodore Whitmore-coached St James High started shakily against Garvey Maceo High in hot early-afternoon sunshine. But as if to show that the race is not for the swift, the western team gradually took control and in the end won 3-0 with goals from Jowell Powell in 38th and 81st minutes and substitute Akeem Smith in the 78th.

— Garfield Myers