Former champions Glenmuir High maintained a positive start to the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup season, as they outclassed last year’s beaten finalist Central High in a come-from-behind 5-1 win in what turned out to be a lopsided encounter at the former’s base on Saturday.

Nyron Allen (15^th), Kyle Gordon (31^st), Deandre Johnson (48^th), Tajaun Cummings (52^nd) and substitute Derrick Henry (69^th), were on target for the Andrew Peart-coached Glenmuir side, after James Gallimore gave Central High an 11th-minute lead.

Peart welcomed the win, which was his team second on the trot, putting them in firm control of Zone L on six points.

“The result is very important at this group stage, especially also due to the fact that both teams had some level of success last season so there were a lot of talk around the town about who would win, and we came out on top,” he said in a post-match interview.

“We are just training hard and always seeking to improve, last year we laid down some foundations and we have built on them so far. So there is no pressure, I am just looking at what is in front of me, the players that are in front of me and the direction we want to take the school in,” Peart added.

With Glenmuir being gradually slow to settle, Central capitalised and grabbed the early ascendancy when James dyer sidewined his way between two defenders before playing a pass off to Gallimore, who made no mistakes from close range.

However, their lead was short-lived, as captain Gordon dispossessed a defender and found an unmarked Allen, who fired a firm right-footed effort past Davone Robinson in goal for Central.

Glenmuir suffered a setback as they lost last season’s standout player after he picked up what appeared to be a broken arm in the 25^th minute. Watson tallied 17 goals and nine assist last season.

Still, Glenmuir pressed on and found the lead just past the half-hour mark when Gordon converted from the penalty spot, after Johnson was felled inside the danger area by Robinson, to put Glenmuir 2-1 up at the break.

They wasted little time to pick up where they left off on the resumption and extended the lead three minutes in when a defensive mix up, allowed Johnson to arrive on the ball and head past Robinson for his second goal of the season.

And Cummings put further daylight between Glenmuir and Central with a cool, calm and collected finish over a well-advanced Robinson, who was left in no man’s land.

Though Central tried to play their game and had a few openings from which they could have narrowed the gap, Justin Murray, in goal for Glenmuir was not for beating.

While Central’s hunt was fruitless, Glenmuir helped themselves to a fifth, as Allan slipped two defenders, before passing to Henry, who slotted home from deep inside the 18-yard box.

A disappointed Jermaine Douglas of Central High felt his team lost their composure after finding the lead.

“I thought we were playing well in the first 15 to 20 minutes, but my concern was always scoring first and then becoming complacent, it's something we try to guard against but that is exactly what happened. I don’t think we should have lost by this margin we got some chances that we didn’t put away, but such is football,” he said.

The result leaves Central pointless, while the other group contest between Porus and Old Harbour was called off due to bad weather with the latter leading 5-0.

Saturday’s results

Zone A

Cornwall College 0, Irwin High 0

Maldon 4, Green Pond 0

Spot Valley 2, St James 1

Zone D

Mannings 1, Petersfield 0

Zone I

Tacky High 3, Horace Clarke 3

Wycliff Martin 1, St Mary Technical 1

Zone J

Dinthill 6, Ewarton 0

McGrath 1. Enid Bennett 0

Zone K

Yallahs 6, Robert Lightbourne 0

Morant Bay High 1, Paul Bogle 0

Zone L

Glenmuir High 5, Central High 1

Porus 0, Old Harbour 5 (Game called off due to lightning)

Zone M

Kemps Hill 0, Vere Technical 2

Garvey Maceo 8, Tacius Golding 0