Ocho Rios claw way into quarters, defending champs out

A BRACE from Keanu Reid, inclusive of a dramatic late goal, helped Ocho Rios High squeeze into the final eight of the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup in a nail-biting 2-2 draw with Dinthill Technical at Drax Hall Sports Complex yesterday.

Ocho Rios, first-time quarter-finalists, fought back from being two goals down to end Group 3 second with four points, and will join Glenmuir who defeated Happy Grove 1-0 yesterday. Glenmuir leads the group on nine points.

The result sends Happy Grove and Dinthill into the first round of the Ben Francis Cup.

In wet, muddy conditions, Dinthill’s Tyrese Gowe opened the scoring in the 50th minute from the penalty spot. Raheem Harris doubled the lead in the 63rd. Ocho Rios’ Reid struck back in the 75th to give his team some hope before a costly error saw Dinthill’s Tirafah Bryan receive a red card in the 87th minute.

Just when many fans thought the game would end 2-1, Reid turned up to score Ocho Rios’ saving goal.

Veron Peterkin, coach of Ocho Rios, said the team has to create its own history.

“Ochi is not necessarily a tough school like a Dinthill, Glenmuir, Cornwall, and Clarendon. We can’t worry about another team’s history. That is what we believe and hard work, sticking to our game plan, and, fortunately, it worked out for us.

“It feels good to know that the hard work is giving some success as it relates to our progression in the league. We just have to put our best foot out and stick to the plan,” he added.

Meanwhile, Harold Thomas, coach of Dinthill, said the team lost the plot.

“We gave away two goals, and that red card made it all the more difficult. We gave up a silly red card in the game that put us down to 10 men under pressure. It is what it is. It was a tough game in a tough season,” Thomas said.

“It was a good game under tough conditions. Mud and water, you never get a chance to play your normal football. In the end, someone had to win,” he added.

In other games yesterday, defending champions Clarendon College’s championship dreams ended with a 2-1 defeat, courtesy of an already eliminated Cornwall College at Glenmuir High School.

Both will move to the first round of the Ben Francis Cup. This was Cornwall’s only win in the round of 16.

An undefeated Frome Technical, on five points, will join Group 2 winners Munro in the quarter-finals after a 0-0 draw.

Garvey Maceo will join STETHS from Group 2 after their 4-0 win over Alphansus Davis.

Yesterday’s results

Kemps Hill 0-2 STETHS

Alphansus Davis 0-4 Garvey Maceo

Frome 0-0 Munro

Ocho Rios 2-2 Dinthill

Happy Grove 0-1 Glenmuir

Central 2-1 McGrath

Manchester 2-2 Denbigh

Clarendon College 1-2 Cornwall