BB Coke into first schoolboy final
WESTERN BUREAU:
A SPIRITED second-half performance from B.B. Coke High School saw them come from behind to defeat Manchester High School 2-1 in their semi-final of the ISSA Ben Francis Knockout Cup at the Juici Patties Park to book a spot in their first-ever schoolboy football final.
Manchester were gifted the lead in the 29th minute from a howler by B.B. Coke goalkeeper Shavon Foster. Dane Golding lurked well and pounced on his spilt ball and put Vassell Reynolds’ side 1-0 up.
Kimani Case found the equaliser for B.B. Coke just five minutes into the second half with a spectacular free kick. Case netted his sixth goal of the season, lifting the ball over the wall before it dipped into the net.
B.B. Coke then got the winner through a penalty converted by Shamar Robinson in the 76th minute.
B.B Coke head coach Kemar Ricketts is proud of the effort his team put in and said he never lost faith in their ability.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “It’s our second time against them, coming from behind. I never lost faith in the boys because I knew they had the kind of mentality that can bring them back in the game. All I did was speak to them at halftime.”
Reynolds said that after being in such a strong position,
Manchester are disappointed to miss the final.
“Probably at the beginning, some people may not have thought that we would be challenging for a semi-final or final spot in the various competitions,” he said. “However, having gone so close in both the daCosta Cup and now the Ben Francis, in the end, we are disappointed.”
Play was suspended after 40 minutes in the second semifinal at the same venue due to lightning and a waterlogged field. Garvey Maceo led 1-0 over St Elizabeth Technical. The remaining 55 minutes of the game will be played early next week at the same venue.