On the verge of getting dumped out of the competition at the first round stage for a long time, two time champions Dinthill Technical took full advantage at life line handed to them as they led eight other schools in the second round of the ISSA/Wata DaCosta Cup football competition on Saturday.
Dinthill got big help from ISSA after Charlemont High were found to have used an ineligible player in both games against them and the six points took them back into contention for a second round berth.
On Saturday they edged Zone K winners McGrath High 1-0 in their return round game played at Dinthill to complete the come back as an early goal from Jevonne Redman was enough for them to avenge a first round loss to McGrath High who had already secured zone honours with 13 points, three more than Dinthill Technical.
William Knibb Memorial, Petersfield High, Spalding High, Oracabessa, Ocho Rios, Brimmervale, Vere Technical and Central High also joined the earlier qualifiers.
Ocho Rios and Brimmervale got in by the narrowest of margins, by goal-difference after they finished tied on points with teams below them.
The ‘Palla’ Wilson coached Spalding High were unbeaten in their last eight games after losing their first two games and ended with a bang, beating zone winners Alston High 2-0 on Saturday, to finish on 20 points and grab the second automatic spot, two points behind Alston High. Oracabessa High completed a perfect second round with a 1-0 win over Browns Town to win Zone I with 22 points, opening up the door for Ocho Rios High to just get their heads in front after a 0-0 draw against Marcus Garvey High.
Ocho Rios and Browns Town both ended on 17 points but Ocho Rios had a goal-difference of 12 to Browns Town’s 11.
Brimmervale’s 0-0 draw against St Mary Technical was enough to give them the edge in Zone J as they finished behind Annotto Bay.
William Knibb Memorial shook off a disappointing 2-2 draw against Cedric Titus on Wednesday to beat Spot Valley High 3-1, eliminating them from contention and top Zone C with 16 points.
Cristojay Daley, Mark Lewis and Deano Thomas scored for William Knibb who will meet Herbert Morrison tomorrow in a game that will help decide the runners up.
Petersfield High thrashed Maud McLeod High 7-1 to snap a two games winless run, Chad Gordon scoring twice, improving to 19 points and joining Mannings School.
In Zone N, Vere Technical and Central High both scored wins to book their spots in the next round; Vere Technical edged Foga Road to stay at the top on goal-difference while Central High got by Old Harbour High 2-1.
