At York Castle in St. Ann, STETHS did well to beat a York Castle team that was the most prolific unit in the competition. York Castle chalked up fifteen goals in the quarterfinals with four against. It would be STETHS who would prove to be the more efficient of the two teams with a 2-0 win.
Favourites Cornwall College who lost their 100% winning record against STETHS when both teams played to a 0-0 draw on Monday, came into the game against Munro with home field advantage. The Cornwall outfit had rested a number of key players while playing against STETHS, but came into the game against Munro at full strength with the inclusion of two Dacosta Cup players and a few other senior players.
A good crowd by U16 standards gathered to watch this game of epic proportions. Cornwall would signal their intentions early when they breached the Munro defense, but national U17 representative Ahkeem Forbes pulled off a brilliant save. A battle for dominance in midfield would ensue for the remainder of the half.
The momentum swung in favour of Munro in the second half with them making several raids on the Cornwall goal. Munro won a free kick early in the second half close to the edge of the box. Mark Parchment's scorcher of a free kick eluded a sea of Munro and Cornwall players to lodge in the far corner of the goal. Munro had barely finished celebrating when Cornwall got the equalizer in less than a minute when a header from a right sided cross lobbed the Munro keeper and found the far corner of the net.
The remainder of the game would have ebb and flows until the dreaded penalty kicks. Munro would miss their first two penalties with excellent saves from the Cornwall keeper. Conversely, Cornwall would score their first two penalties. Munro Keeper Ahkeem Forbes would keep brilliantly from here on out, saving three of the next four penalties while getting a hand to Cornwall's fifth penalty. Ironically, Forbes would score Munro's first penalty with Stefano Hynes, Tazair Arnott, Jermaine Perry and Antonio Gregg following suit to earn Munro a 5-4 victory.
Munro and STETHS will play on Friday in the final at 3pm at STETHS.
By:Kevin Hutchinson
