WESTERN BUREAU: ON A day when rain in rural Jamaica reduced the 12-game fixture to just four matches, Ben Francis Knockout champions St James High and Rusea's rolled back into contention in the inter-zone round of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup when they emerged victorious from yesterday's doubleheader at Jarrett Park.
In their Group One game, St James High, coming off a 3-2 loss to Frome Technical, scored a 2-0 win over Godfrey Stewart courtesy of a double strike by Allan Ottey.
In their Group Two game against Marcus Garvey, Roydel Moncrieffe (three goals), Andrew Thorpe and skipper Domaine Thompson led Rusea's to an emphatic 5-1 win.
Over at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), where another doubleheader was played, STETHS, who lost their first round Group Four game to Lennon, re-ignited their quarter-final bid with a 4-3 win against Christiana. In the other game, Spalding took over the lead in Group Three with a 1-0 win over Lacovia.
Lacklustre first half
"We played a tired game today, but, thankfully, we were able to come away with a win," said Pastor Hugh Solomon, the coach of St James High. "Hopefully, we will have the players fully rested for the next games."
After a lacklustre first half which produced no goals, St James High took the lead in the 76th minute when Ottey was sent clear by a superb pass from Ricardo Morris and he fired home easily, making the score 1-0.
Ottey was at it again three minutes later when Keniel Kirlew sent him clear with another good pass and he fired in, making the final score 2-0.
In their game against Marcus Garvey, Rusea's started like a house on fire as, after dominating from the opening whistle, they took the lead in the 15th minute. Moncrieffe took a neat pass from Thorpe, rounded the goalkeeper and fired in, making the score 1-0.
Rusea's doubled their lead in the 25th minute when a fabulous 30-yard free-kick by Thompson whistled past the Marcus Garvey defensive wall and goalkeeper Devaughn Cartel and struck the back of the net, making the score 2-0. Six minutes later, Moncrieffe made it 3-0 when he caught the defence napping, sped away and fired home.
With Marcus Garvey offering only token resistance, Thorpe made it 4-0 in the 36th minute when his long-range powerhouse slipped between the hands of the goalkeeper and cross the goal-line.
In the 40th minute, Moncrieffe completed his hat-trick when he slipped by Marcus Garvey's off-side trap and booted in to make the half-time score 5-0.
Dropped tempo of game
In the second half, Rusea's dropped the tempo of their play and Marcus Garvey capitalised in the 51st minute.
A well-worked free kick finally ended with Paul Moses firing home from 35 yards, making the final score 5-1.