Perfect William Knibb, Cedric Titus clash

WESTERN BUREAU:

An exciting top-of-table clash in Zone C looms for this afternoon in the ISSA/Digicel daCosta Cup football competition with William Knibb Memorial High visiting Cedric Titus High as both boast a perfect win record.

Despite both having 15 points from their five games, William Knibb boast a mammoth goal difference of 33 as opposed to Cedric Titus' 13.

William Knibb is coming off the back of a 9-0 win over Muschett on Saturday, despite resting six starters. On the other hand, Cedric Titus, who were also resting players, narrowly defeated Herbert Morrison Tech 2-1.

Dwight Jeremiah, coach of William Knibb, said their approach will be the same as they aim to top the zone.

"It's just like any other game. The aim is to win the zone and to guarantee that we have to win all our games. Cedric Titus is next in line so that's what we will have to do.

"I don't think there is a player that would be thinking about going up there for a draw. Bragging right is always at stake. It's a derby with both of us in good form. Yes, we have been more prolific and more defensively sound but none of that counts when we get into the game," Jeremiah said.

William Knibb are among two schools that have not conceded so far, however, Jeremiah accepts that this game will be a test of their defence.

"Yes, if there is any test we are to get, then this may be it. We are expecting our defensive unit which is for us the whole team to be as good as they have been throughout.

"You can say we will be tested defensively but we can also look at the fact that Cedric Titus will have a very difficult time in trying to break us down and this is how we want to look at it," Jeremiah said.

Assistant coach of Cedric Titus, Derrick Pryce, said they aim to stop their counterparts from scoring and penetrate their defence, which should be made a bit easier given that he is quite familiar with the William Knibb set-up.

"It's all about getting things right and nullifying the opponents. Looking at the results, William Knibb are free-flowing, so the objective is to stop them from scoring freely. From there it will be up to us to create chances and score," said Pryce who was the assistant coach of William Knibb daCosta Cup and Under-16 teams last season.

"It doesn't take a great defence not to concede against the teams in the group. Penetrating the defence is not something we cannot do. Also remember I was one of the orchestrators of that defence. Knowing how those players operate will be advantageous to Cedric Titus," he added.