Tinglin’s save knocks out Happy Grove

Goalkeeper Carlyle Tinglin saved the day for many-time champions Cornwall College, enabling them to squeeze out a 5-4 win on penalties over Happy Grove High School in the ISSA/WATA Ben Francis Knockout competition's opening clash at Drax Hall Sports Complex in St Ann yesterday.

Both teams had battled to a 1-1 regulation finish.

Cornwall and Happy Grove exchanged goals in the penalty shootout until Happy Grove's Jahvor Lawrence, in a tense moment, struck his shot, only to see Tingling launched himself to save.

The result advanced Cornwall to the quarter-finals to join Frome Technical, Clarendon College, Denbigh High and Manchester High, who were also successful yesterday.

In wet, muddy conditions, it wasn't until the second half that Happy Grove's Oshane Chambers fired home from a cross in the 58th minute to open the scoring. He gave his team's handful of supporters a moment of cheer when he struck home from a perfectly placed cross.

Conceding a goal did not sit well with Cornwall and they went on the hunt. Shortly after, Happy Grove watched as their strike was cancelled out in the 62nd minute through Cornwall College's Carlando Morris.

Both teams weren't about to lie down and they put much effort into creating chances, but being evenly matched meant they would keep the game even.

Cornwall head coach, Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, said the victory was well-deserved.

"I think the boys went out there and gave 110 per cent today. We left it late but came out victorious in the penalty shootout. It came down to Carlando Morris, who scored and brought us back in the game. I thought it was an overall team effort, and congrats to the boys," Whitmore said.

Tinglin commented on his match-winning exploits.

"For me, it was a normal save, but it made us win the game today. I feel great that we are going on to the next round. I thought we could have closed it out from the first half, but we went to the penalty shootout and did what we had to."

Meanwhile, Vincent Wallace, coach of Happy Grove, said it was a good game.

"I think it was a game of two halves. It took us a while to acclimatise to the conditions. The underfooting was rather difficult. We got a goal early in the second half, but we blundered and as such we conceded one," he said.

"Going into penalties it's who the favour falls on, and so we are down. We will look to the future now that the season has ended," Wallace said.