CHAPELTON, Clarendon — A 37th minute goal from Ricardo McIntosh proved the difference as highly rated Clarendon College defeated Edwin Allen High 1-0 in a low-intensity, ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup clash at Clarendon College Saturday.

Clarendon College with three of the more talented national age-group players — McIntosh, Nique Daley and Lamar Walker — in their line-up have already advanced to the next stage of the daCosta Cup and are among the favourites to win the title.

Edwin Allen High showed good individual talent on Saturday but are out of contention.

Before a fair-sized crowd, under cloudy skies and on a muddy, soggy field with pools of rainwater at the northern end, both teams struggled to maintain possession and play good football. To their credit, they tried.

The only goal came fortuitously for the winners. The hard-working McIntosh from the right attempted what may well have been a cross intended for onrushing attackers. Whatever was his intent, goalkeeper Jerome Bonner mishandled the wet, slippery ball at his near post and it slid over the line into his net.

Ironically, until then and for the remainder of the game, Bonner gave a favourable impression.

Both teams missed gilt-edged chances, even as the defensive units stayed focused in the difficult underfoot conditions.

For Clarendon College, Daley was a disappointment, repeatedly struggling with his first touch. However, McIntosh, and the elegantly skilful Walker, were standouts.

Winning coach Lenworth Hyde, a star attacker for Clarendon College back in the 1970s, was disappointed that while his team passed the ball relatively well and created chances, they scored just once.

“When we get in the attacking third, we need to move the ball faster,” he said.

Edwin Allen’s coach Conroy Brown said he is expecting a much better showing from his team next season. “This is a very young team. Seventy per cent of this squad are under 16,” he said.

— Garfield Myers