Omar Wedderburn, Head coach of zone leaders STETHS.
While former champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Munro College played out a 1-1 stalemate, Maggotty High helped themselves to an 8-0 win over Roger Clarke in a ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup Zone E double-header in Santa Cruz on Saturday.
Ozwayne Miller (20th, 28th) and Roshane Lewis (60th, 64th), both had a brace for Maggotty, with Robinho Barrett (17th), Jeraine Robinson (51st), Chadrick Jackson (66th) and Daniel Martin (75th), also getting in on the act, as Roger Clarke were like lambs to the slaughter in the curtain-raiser.
The much-anticipated St Elizabeth derby feature contest, though not short on entertainment, did not serve up as much goals as D’andre Hibbert (35th) of STETHS and Munro’s captain Daniel Bowen (37th), ensured their teams a share of the spoils.
Despite the draw, STETHS remain at the summit of the zone on 10 points, one ahead of BB Coke (nine points), with Munro College inching up to eight points in third. Maggotty with their first win of the season, moved up to fifth on four points.
It was one-way traffic in favour of Maggotty High in the opening encounter which was reduced to 80 minutes following a lengthy delay caused by lightning.
Barrett opened the scoring with a neat finish, beating Raquan Powell in goal for Roger Clarke, at his near post.
Poor defending by Roger Clarke then allowed Miller to double the lead, as he latched on to, and tucked away a rebound.
Miller was again on target eight minutes later when he got in behind defenders and calmly slotted a left-footed effort beyond Powell, for his second on the day and third of the season.
Though up 3-0 at the break, Maggotty High were in no mood to let up and extended their lead six minutes into the resumption when Powell left his lines but failed to clear the ball properly. Robinson, who was on hand, capitalised as he fired the loose ball into an empty net.
On the hour-mark, Lewis went on the break down the right channel where he had time and space to dart into the 18-yard box and pick a spot to fire past the hapless Powell.
Lewis then grabbed his second and his team’s sixth, as he outpaced and outmuscled a defender before firing past the slightly advanced Powell in the 64th.
Jackson added his name to the scoresheet two minutes later. He picked up a pass from Lewis inside the 18-yard box and finished with aplomb.
And Martin applied the finishing touches to the rout when her converted from the penalty spot after Donte Blake, handled ball inside the danger area.
The feature contest lived up to billing for the most parts, as both STETHS and Munro were evenly poised throughout and nullified each other at both ends of the park.
It was STETHS that drew first blood when Hibbert applied a thumping right-footed finish to a pass from Ajay Smith. That was his fourth of the season.
However, their celebrations were short-lived as Munro replied soon after Roshane Wint headed on a ball for Bowen, who executed a sublime acrobatic finish on the volley, that gave Donte Campbell, in goal for STETHS, no chance at a save.
From there, both teams created their fair share of chances, particularly in the second half, but were unable to make them count.
Saturday’s results
Merlene Ottey 0, Green Island 1
Rusea’s High 1, Frome Tech 0
Discovery Bay High 0, York Castle 10
William Knibb Memorial 3, Cedric Titus 0
Aabuthnott Gallimore 2, Ferncourt High 5
Knockalva Technical 3, Black River High 1
Mannings School 3, Grange Hill High 0
Newell High 1, Lacovia High 3
Maggotty High 8, Roger Clarke 0
STETHS 1, Munro College 1
Manchester High 6, Mt St Joseph Catholic 0
deCarteret College 8, Cross Keys 0
Central High 16, Porus High 0
Vere Tech 2, Foga Road 1
Kemps Hill 1, Garvey Maceo High 1
May Day High vs Belair High (called off due to waterlogged field)
Lennon High vs Edwin Allen (called off due to lightning)
Clarendon College vs Thompson Town (called off due to lightning)
Carron Hall High vs St Mary High (rained out)
Wycliffe Martin High vs Horace Clarke (rained out)
Ocho Rios High vs Brown’s Town (rained out)
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
I don’t know what to say – Sarina Wiegman stunned by Nations League finale
Sarina Wiegman was left almost speechless with disappointment after England’s 6-0 win over Scotland was still not enough to make the Nations League knockout stages as Team GB’s hopes of reaching next summer’s Olympic Games also ended.
Pedro Martinez Losa’s side, already relegated from League A1, were swept aside at Hampden Park but the Netherlands’ 4-0 win over Belgium saw them top the group.
Defender Alex Greenwood headed the opener after 12 minutes and two goals in a minute by Lauren James and another by Beth Mead just before the break had the game over by half-time.
Striker Fran Kirby added a fifth with Lucy Bronze heading in what looked a crucial final goal in the third minute of added time – but Damaris Egurrola’s late brace for the Netherlands meant they pipped Wiegman’s side on goal difference.
Wiegman, whose side was the nominated nation on behalf of Team GB for Paris next year and needed to win the group, was on the Hampden pitch with her players after the game when the Dutch, whom they beat 3-2 on Friday, scored their crucial fourth.
She said: “Of course I am very very disappointed. That’s the biggest emotion I have now.
“We delivered tonight and we delivered this December camp, the team showed lots of character, in this game too and we started the game really well, scored four goals in the first half.
“When Lucy scored I said to the players that we are going to get this.
“Netherlands scored in the late seconds and that’s how close it was.
“We were waiting, long minutes but we really thought we got it and then we didn’t make it I said I actually don’t know what to say.
“I am really proud of the performance and what we did this whole week but it was not enough and it is really disappointing and you don’t really have to say anything more.
“If you don’t get through in goal difference then it is just not enough, that’s the facts. But that’s football.”
Martinez Losa was similarly taken aback by what he had witnessed but for different reasons.
He said: “We have to apologise to the fans, this was not what they expected.
“We lost concentration in the first half after we conceded the first goal, we were out of the game at half-time.
“I will never be embarrassed about the team, about the players, but it was not the performance we were expecting for our fans.
“England were at a good level and took advantage of their good moments.
“One of the consequences of the result is because we wanted to win the game. We pressed England high as well as they did. Some moments we were doing things well.
“After the four goals it was difficult for our players to come back.
“I considered [making first-half subs] but didn’t do it because in the end, the responsibility of the team is with myself. I respect the team, I understand for the players that it is a big occasion and I wanted to wait until half-time.”
Billy Heath still hoping Alfreton can make FA Cup third round after Walsall draw
Alfreton boss Billy Heath believes his players can still become the first in the club’s history to reach the FA Cup third round.
The Derbyshire part-timers fought out a 0-0 home draw with League Two Walsall, with Heath arguing that his outfit were the better team against a side that ply their trade two divisions higher.
He went on to admit that a replay in the Midlands represents a tougher proposition, but feels that his “magnificent” side remain capable of progressing with Championship Southampton awaiting the victors at St Mary’s.
“It was a close game and both teams had chances, but I thought we edged it,” Heath said.
“We had a bit more goalmouth action and our two chances were the most clear-cut opportunities to score, so we are disappointed with that, but the players were magnificent and we really gave as good as we got.
“We’ve also got to remind ourselves that some of our players were at work today and some were stuck in traffic and nearly didn’t get here, so it’s fantastic what they have achieved tonight.
“Hopefully they will get more credit than we get in the league now, because we have some really good individuals with great character.
“They have shown that in this tie and we are still in it, which is the main thing. It will be even more difficult at their place but we won’t be going there to go out with a whimper and still think we can win the tie.”
Walsall boss Mat Sadler was subjected to chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” by unimpressed away fans, who have seen their team win just once in nine contests – against Isthmian League minnows Sheppey United in the previous round.
The Saddlers have also failed to net in three successive matches, but an under-pressure Sadler declared that he was pleased with the manner in which his team did not buckle in the face of repeated long throws into their box from home midfielder Adam Lund.
“You have to respect whatever the supporters are saying, but we have had a tough spell with injuries and I’m pleased with how incredibly hard the team we put out worked tonight,” Sadler insisted.
“We had some good moments and controlled long parts of the game, so there were plenty of positives but we didn’t quite have that bit at the end, which is not happening for us at the moment.
“It will come and sometimes you just need a goal to go off somebody’s backside, earlobe or whatever. But we also showed great resilience to deal with their long throw, which is a hell of a weapon.
“Fair play to them – they use it well and use it from everywhere, but we stood up to that and it was a very competitive cup tie.”
Stuart Kettlewell says sorry to Motherwell fans after Ross County loss
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell expressed his “shame” after a 3-0 defeat against former club Ross County.
Kettlewell held his hands up in apology to the 94 travelling fans who braved the wintry conditions to witness their side go 12 cinch Premiership games without a victory.
Simon Murray headed County in front from a corner inside two minutes as Well lost the first goal for the 11th time in their barren run.
Yan Dhanda curled home from 22 yards inside 18 minutes and Ben Purrington knocked home a rebound in the second half as a static Motherwell defence was beaten again.
Kettlewell, who saw Calum Butcher and Dan Casey pick up injuries, the latter a serious one, said: “Everyone knows how difficult that road can be in winter and how far away it is and we had a group of fans who came up here to support the team in the hope we’d put on a performance, and it was miles away from what it has to be when people spend that cash and time to come up here.
“And there’s a bit of shame in that when you see people travelling up here and that’s the level they get.
“I feel very, very sorry for the supporters that came here because, having seen it, the better decision would be to stay in the house.
“The level of performance was so far removed from where it needs to be to be competitive in this league.
“Then add in the injuries to Butcher and Casey, when you piece all that together along with the troubles and difficult run we’re on, that makes it the toughest ever game for me to watch.”
Motherwell have only collected four points out of a possible 36.
Kettlewell said: “You have to scrap and fight your way out of it and I didn’t see an awful lot of that in the first 45 minutes in particular. You can see the dent it has conceding that early goal.
“So much of it becomes that mentality, a little bit of fear coming in and people maybe not looking for the ball.
“You have to have belief in yourself, envisage there’s a way out of it and trust in the guys around about you to make sure that happens.
“My greatest frustration is I’m dealing with a group of players who have shown that in spade loads during my time at the club and for whatever reason at this minute in time it’s coming up seriously short.”
Casey was carried off on a stretcher after the final whistle.
“It looks a real bad one,” Kettlewell said.
“He has a brace in his leg and it looks like he is heading to hospital. I think he said he felt some sort of crack in his leg.”
County made it seven points and three clean sheets from three matches since Derek Adams returned as manager.
Adams, who saw Will Nightingale sent off in stoppage time, said: “The confidence is there – we played on the front foot – and I thought defensively we were good.
“We stepped forward with the ball and created some really good movements in the game. We were unfortunate not to score more.”
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