STETHS favoured against struggling Munro College

SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — There will be a difference in today’s derby between former champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Munro College at St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex in Santa Cruz.

While STETHS are at the top of the points table, where they have been for most of the last 10 years or so, Munro College are off to their worst start in decades, yet to win a game with three draws and a loss and in fourth place in Zone D.

Munro College’s loss was at home on Wednesday to Maggotty High, who are in second place on nine points, one behind STETHS, but a comfortable six points ahead of fourth-placed Munro College.

It has been a slow start to the Patrick “Jackie” Walters era at Munro College, after they lost about six players to transfer including Oneeko Allen — who is creating waves for Kingston College in the Manning Cup and who scored 11 goals in the first round last year.

Additionally, one player, Tavin Shaw, is out with a season-long leg injury, and unless they turn around their form they could miss advancing from the first round for the third time in the last four years, after missing out in the 2014 and 2016 seasons.

STETHS have dominated the recent games against their fiercest rivals, as Munro College’s most recent win over STETHS came six years ago in the 2012 season when the teams shared 2-1 home wins, and Munro fans had to go even further back to the 2009 season when they beat STETHS twice with coach Hopeton Gilchrist at the helm.

STETHS, who had coach Andrew Edwards in his first year, would have the last laugh, as they went on to win the dacosta Cup while Munro College lost in the final of the Ben Francis Knock-out to the Jackie Walters-led Glenmuir High, at STETHS.

STETHS are coming off a 1-1 draw at neighbours Lacovia High, after missing a penalty deep in stoppage time that would have seen them win their fourth-straight.

The five-time champions started their season with a 10-0 hammering of newcomers Sydney Pago High, but since then have scored just five goals in their next three games.

The 15 goals are tied with Frome Technical and Dinthill Technical, one behind defending champions Rusea’s High, with Tajay Gayle and Ronaldo Webster each scoring five goals to date.

For all their failures so far Munro College have not given up many goals, just five in their four games, but are coming off a loss to Maggotty High.