Cornwall hammer Ocho Rios six-love

THE WINNINGEST team in ISSA daCosta Cup history, Cornwall College, hit Ocho Rios High for six at Drax Hall Sports Complex yesterday to open their round-of-16 campaign emphatically.

Cornwall’s Carlondo Morris stole the spotlight with a hat-trick, scoring in the 15th minute before converting penalties in the 27th and 78th minutes. Mekhi Foster added another goal in the 40th minute.

Shakeem Gibson scored in the 75th minute, before Marcane Gooden hit the net in the 89th minute to seal the commanding victory for the 12-time daCosta Cup champions.

The win puts Zone One’s Cornwall College atop the standings with three points, while Frome Technical High and Garvey Maceo High are tied on one point each following their draw. Ocho Rios High sit at the bottom of the table without a point.

Cornwall’s coach Leacroft Lettman said his players adhered well to the tactical game plan, while pointing to significant improvements in their mentality and coachability, compared to their previous three games.

“The boys have come out with that hunger. When our back is against the wall, it is the hardest we fight. I think, overall, our discipline and camaraderie from the training ground is showing. The boys’ body language has improved so much from the training ground,” said Lettman.

“The boys came out today and really delivered. They are in a coachable mood now, and things have changed from our last three games coming in,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ocho Rios High’s assistant coach Gary Robinson expressed disappointment with his team’s performance, attributing the defeat to a lack of effort and failure to perform at the expected level.

“Nobody came to lose but, you know, we didn’t get it right today, we didn’t get it right. It was a lacklustre performance. We didn’t perform and didn’t turn up today,” said Robinson.

“We know what the boys are capable of, but it wasn’t meant to be today. We have to just go back to the drawing board and do what we have to for the next game,” added Robinson.

Positive start

In other games, Zone Three underdogs Lacovia High upset former champions Clarendon College 2-1 to make a positive start.

Zone Two’s high-scoring Glenmuir High thrashed defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School 5-0, sending a strong message to the rest of the competition.

Zone Four’s Munro College handed Manning’s School their first defeat of the competition with a commanding 4-1 victory, courtesy of goals from Akel Vesprey, Nikosi Foncette, Jaquan Mitchell and Kajaye Williams. Jarvis Meylor scored the lone goal for Manning’s.

The round of 16 will resume on Tuesday.

ashley.anguin@gleanerjm.com

Yesterday’s Results:

Ocho Rios 0-6 Cornwall College

Frome 0-0 Garvey Maceo

Glenmuir 5-0 STETHS

Manning’s 1-4 Munro

Manchester 1-1 Kemps Hill

Denbigh 0-2 Dinthill

Clarendon 1-2 Lacovia

McGrath 2-0 Central