St James High's Allan Ottey leaps over a tackle from Lacovia's Oral Green in yesterday's daCosta Cup semi-final at Jarrett Park. St James won 4-1.<- Photo by Adrian Frater
WESTERN BUREAU:
BEN FRANCIS champions St James and Spaldings High earned the right to contest the final of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup when they emerged victorious from yesterday's semi-finals.
In their game at Jarrett Park, St James were all the rage against a spirited Lacovia High, spanking them by a 4-1 margin courtesy of goals by top striker Allan Ottey (two), who lifted his season tally to 22, and Garfield Hall and midfield star Ricardo Morrison.
"We came out here quite determined this afternoon and we gave it our all and got the result we wanted," said Pastor Hugh Solomon, coach of St James High.
"We are now going to quickly put this win behind us and get ready for the final."
In their game against Lennon High, who had beaten them 3-0 in the Ben Francis KO semi-finals, at St. Elizabeth Technical High School, Alexander Morgan-coached Spaldings High got sweet revenge with a good 2-1 win. Jovan Powell and Nathan Christopher got the goals.
"We played beautifully today and once we took a 2-0 lead, we knew we had it won," said Morgan. "We relaxed somewhat and Lennon got a goal, but we stayed composed and got the victory."
At Jarrett Park, St James, who had beaten Lacovia 2-1 in the Ben Francis KO, started at a hectic pace and were rewarded in the third minute. A long looping pass from John Barrett bounced kindly for Ottey, who nodded past the advancing goalkeeper.
With St James blunting everything Lacovia threw at them and launching stinging counter-attacks, they doubled their lead in the 24th minute.
Hall won possession in the crowded goal area, turned sweetly and struck a left-footed grounder past the goalkeeper.
After missing a glorious chance in the 25th minute when skipper Nockoy Smith fired wide from close range, Lacovia pulled back a goal in the 32nd minute. Smith swung a powerful low across the face of the St James goal and Javid Morris deflected the ball into the roof of the net. The score was 2-1 at the break.
Enjoyed exchanges
In the second half, St James continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges and, after surviving a Lacovia chance in the 57th minute when Smith fired wide from close range, they struck again in the 63rd minute. Morris traded a series of passes with Nicholi Barrett on the edge of the goal area before firing into the roof of the net.
Towards the end of the half, Lacovia threw everything into attack. However, the St James defence, led by skipper Fabian McCarthy, kept them at bay as few positive shots went to goalkeeper Everette Nunes.
In the dying moments, the speedy Ottey sealed the issue; running away from several defenders before waltzing around the goalkeeper and firing home, making the final score 4-1.