Edwin Allen, Dinthill set for big showdown on Friday

Western Bureau:

Edwin Allen High and Dinthill Technical will clash on Friday to decide the semi-final qualifiers from Group One of the ISSA/Digicel daCosta Cup quarter-final round.

Both schools scored impressive wins at Manchester High yesterday and lead the group with six points each. Edwin Allen crushed Christiana High 4-0 in the feature match, while Dinthill High ran away 3-0 victors over William Knibb in the early game. Dinthill will need only a draw on Friday as they have the superior goal difference (plus seven) to Edwin Allen's plus six.

In the feature encounter Edwin Allen stamped their class in the first half and they were three goals up at the break. Jaheem Thomas opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a brilliant free kick which beat the goalkeeper in the top right corner. Ackeem Mullings added another four minutes later before Richard Henry gave Edwin Allen a three-goal cushion five minutes before the break.

The Clarendon-based school managed the game after the break as they seemed determined to not give Christiana a sniff of a possible comeback. The game was decided when Henry returned to the scoresheet for his brace in the 63rd minute. Christiana ended the game with 10 players as Devon Williams was shown a red card in the 75th minute.

Tafari Burton, the Edwin Allen coach, was pleased with the intensity of his boys from the first whistle and is hoping for the same approach on Friday.

"I was especially pleased with the first half as our confidence grew with each goal and at the same time demoralised the opposition. What I liked also is the way we kept up the tempo right through the entire first half," Burton said.

"They stood up to the task so I'm satisfied with the performance. At this stage of the competition, you can't get too excited you just want them to be consistent," he added.

Coach of Christiana, Declan Nelson, said despite the heavy defeat he believes his boys will rise to the occasion in their final game

"They will rise to the occasion I promise you that. These are a tough set of boys who are willing to fight for each other and I think that they will do well in the next game," Nelson said. In Group Two, Manning's High drubbed Happy Grove 6-0 and are on top with six points while Munro College are in second with four after outscoring Vere Technical 4-3.