There was late drama in both ISSA Rural Area junior football finals at the St. Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Glenmuir High scored in time added to win the Burger King Under 14 title, and Mannings School rallied from two goals down to retain their Mighty Malt Under 16 crown.
Glenmuir High beat Manchester High 1-0 in the third meeting between the two schools this year, while Mannings School came back from two goals down to beat Clarendon College 3-2. Denton Williams scored twice in the final five minutes of regulation.
The winners will not turn their attention to the All-Island play-offs next month. Glenmuir High will play Corporate Area champions Kingston College in the Under 14 final, and Mannings School will face St Andrew Technical in the Under 16 decider.
Manchester High won the first game against Glenmuir High 3-2, and the second game ended in a 3-3 draw, but Tuesday’s game failed to match the number of goals from their first two games.
Two minutes into time added, Tristan Francis redirected a corner kick past the Manchester High goalkeeper to snatch the win.
Clarendon College led 2-0 midway through the second half before Mannings School started its comeback, with captain Denton Williams scoring the equalizer and the winner.
Justin Hayles, who had scored a double in the Under 16 semi-finals against Munro College, gave Clarendon College the lead in the 12th minute. Lashaun Harris headed home from close range in the 51st minute to double Clarendon College’s lead.
Rajon McKenzie halved the deficit for Mannings School when he scored in the 59th minute.
The goal seemed to have given the Mannings team a big lift as they forced Clarendon College back into their own defensive area. They eventually drew level when Williams scored, firing home from just outside the 18-yard box in the 76th minute to tie the scores.
Two minutes before the end of regulation in the 80-minute game, Williams scored the winner against a deflated Clarendon College team.
