Wolmer’s stop St Catherine to reach Walker Cup semis

by

November 23, 2023

Photo

Dante Dacres (left) of Wolmer’s Boys’ School battles with St Catherine High’s Kadean Young, during their ISSA/Digicel Walker Cup knockout football match at The Mico University yesterday. Wolmer’s won 5-4 on penalties.

Jerome Waite, coach of Wolmer's Boys' School, was in no mood to lose a third time this season to St Catherine High School and worked on defeating their opponents for the clash in yesterday's quarterfinals of the ISSA/Digicel Walker Cup at The Mico University.

The Heroes Circle-based Wolmer's prevailed 5-4 on penalties to eliminate St Catherine after both teams had numerous opportunities to score but failed to convert. Wolmer's avenged their two-leg defeat to St Catherine in the second round of the Manning Cup competition.

"Congratulations to the Wolmer's family, as this game was a game that we spent a lot of time talking about as we couldn't afford for one team to defeat us three times. It was an exciting game, but in the end, we came out victorious," Waite shared.

St Catherine, who started the more spirited of the two, had their first goalscoring opportunity in the 15th minute as Rolando Redman's strike had to be carefully handled by goalkeeper Roan Melford.

A minute later, Wolmer's received a chance to go ahead through Dante Dacres, whose left-footed screamer went high off the bar, as St Catherine's Kadean Young hit the post with a header in the 43rd minute.

In the second half, goal opportunities grew few, as Wolmer's and St Catherine kept each other at arm's length.

However, in the 78th minute, St Catherine's Jacque Watson blasted high after an eye-pleasing one-touch possession ended on his left foot.

With the last chance of the game Wolmer's Dacres' right-footed strike had to be kept out by the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Omarion Brown.

The first four penalty kicks were converted by both teams, before St Catherine's Rajae Taylor missed, with Wolmer's Namain Reid sending them to the semifinals.

"It came down to the dreaded penalties, and Wolmer's converted their five kicks. We are out now, and we have to go back and review the season," said St Catherine coach Anthony Patrick.

orane.buchanan@gleanerjm.com