KC edge Dinthill 3-2 to book Champions Cup semis spot; Glenmuir, Hydel also progress

By November 21, 2023
Kingston College and Dinthill Technical in action at the National Stadium. Kingston College and Dinthill Technical in action at the National Stadium. Sports Of Jamaica
Kingston College booked their spot in the semi-finals of the ISSA Champions Cup all-island knockout tournament, after they came from behind to edge Dinthill Technical in an entertaining quarterfinal encounter at the National Stadium on Tuesday. 
 
Captain Robert Seow led from the front with two penalty conversion in the 31st and 45+4 minutes, while Jaheim McLean (44th) got the other.  Tyrese Gowe (1st) and Giovanni Afflick (68th), got the goals for Dinthill.
 
Kingston College will be joined by Glenmuir High and Hydel High, who registered 1-0 and 4-2 victories over Mona High and Garvey Maceo in their games at St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex and Manchester High, respectively. St George’s College and reigning daCosta Cup champions Clarendon College were set to decide the other semi-final spot in the late fixture at the National Stadium. 
 
In the curtain-raiser, Dinthill required only 30 seconds to break the deadlock as Gowe picked up a pass at the edge of the arc and rifled a right-footer past Malique Williams in goal for Kingston College.
 
The St Catherine-based team continued to dominate proceedings for the most part and forced Kingston College into a defensive posture, almost as if backing a prey into a corner.
However, they failed to make the kill strike and eventually let momentum slip after Richard Ewart handled the ball inside the danger area on Demario Dailey's effort. Seow stepped up and buried the 12-yard kick.
 
Kingston College doubled the lead 13 minutes later when McLean expertly headed home from a weighted Damaine Smith cross.
 
And before Dinthill Technical could catch their breaths, they were again hit by Seow from the penalty spot after Deshawn Byfield was taken out by goalkeeper Asher Hutchinson in a one-on-one situation.
 
With a healthy 3-1 lead at the break, the expectations may have been that Kingston College were going to sit back after the interval. Instead, the North Street-based team went on the search for more and like a pack of hungry wolves, camped out in Dinthill's quarters early on the resumption, and had numerous opportunities to extend the lead, but poor decision-making and faulty shooting saw their hunt being fruitless.
 
They later paid for their wastefulness when Afflick applied a delightful finish to Shamair Hutchinson's pass at the near post. From there, the teams nullified each other with Kingston College, in particular, being more resolute to see off the contest.
 
Winning coach Vassell Reynolds lauded his team's fighting spirit after going down.
 
"I think it was an even game; we were shocked by the 30 second goal, but we had time to come back, and we did so at the right time before the break. We could have killed off the game earlier, but nevertheless, they showed the fighting spirit that we wanted, and we are pleased with the win," Reynolds said in a post-match interview.
 
His counterpart, O'Neil Thomas also praised his team's effort despite the loss.
 
"We scored early but indiscipline crept in, and we conceded two penalties. But the boys did their best and we just have to go back fix what we need to and come again because our main focus is the daCosta Cup semi-finals," Thomas noted.
 
Results
Mona 0, Glenmuir 1
Garvey Maceo 2, Hyde High 4
Kingston College 3, Dinthill 2
Sherdon Cowan

Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.

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