York Castle miss out after 4-1 defeat
YORK CASTLE High missed out on a place in the round of 32 of the ISSA daCosta Cup after they went down 4-1 to Zone K leaders Ocho Rios High at Drax Hall Sports Complex in St Ann yesterday.
Both York Castle and Ferncourt High ended with 19 points each but the latter have a far superior goal difference and took second spot. Ocho Rios topped the zone with 28 points.
Yesterday Ocho Rios were quick out of the blocks and Robert Morris gave them a 2-0 lead after six minutes. There were more problems for York Castle early in the first half. Goalkeeper Tyrese Wisdom ended up in the emergency room with a head injury shortly after the second goal following a collision with Ocho Rios's Roshane Malcolm.
There was more drama in an eventful first half as Ocho Rios' head coach coach Veron Peterkin was cautioned twice and sent to the locker room minutes before the break. Then in stoppage time, York Castle's Shakeil Campbell pulled a goal back for his team.
An own goal by Campbell in the 56th minute put the game out of reach for York Castle and Kaniel Brown sealed the win with the fourth goal in injury time.
The head coach of Ocho Rios expressed concerns about the officiating after the match.
"I am not bashing the referee, but we are seeing where our skilful players were getting a lot of kicks and no fouls were called," said Peterkin.
"However, when we touched their players, it was an immediate call. We have already qualified (for the next round) so were trying to play safe and see through the game," Peterkin added, noting the team was aiming not to get any cards.
Meanwhile, York Castle's coach, Garfield Reid, said despite the loss, the team improved a lot this year.
"If you look at last year we were at the bottom of the table. So to be here fighting for a second round spot, that by itself is an improvement," said Reid.
He added, "They showed their fighting spirit today and that is all we have been asking for from last year."
Yesterday's results
Discovery Bay 0- 0 Marcus Garvey
Ocho Rios 4-1 York Castle
Brown's Town 0-0 Ferncourt
Yallahs 5-0 Fair Prospect
Paul Bogle 0- 0 Morant Bay
St Mary Tech 0-0 Iona
Port Antonio 0-2 St Mary High
Horace Clarke 0-0 Titchfield
STETHS 3-0 B.B. Coke
Lacovia 0-0 Maggotty
Christiana 1-0 Alphansus Davis
Holmwood 0-4 Knox College
Charlemont vs Dinthill postponed