Old Harbour D-Cup boys dealt psychological blow, hope to make a run in Ben Francis Cup

The #30 ranked Old Harbour, with an average age of 15, surprised many this season as they grind their way to the last 16 of the rural area daCosta Cup.

But their football caravan of enthusiastic boys and ardent fans were stopped dead in its track, as they were crushed by a marauding Clarendon College side that reached the finals of last year’s competition, drew 2-2 with St James High before another demoralizing 4-0 thrashing by the hands of Manchester High.

The results left them rooted at the bottom of their group with Clarendon advancing to the semi-finals after topping the four-team table with their unbeaten record still intact.
However, the revamped Ben Francis Cup KO format still gives Old Harbour a shot at a title this season.

“When we played Clarendon College, the lost really hurt them,” Meghie told Old Harbour News ahead of their 7th November eliminator versus Lennon at Juici Field in Clarendon.

“That was our first loss from out of 10 games. It (the defeat) was difficult for them to accept,” he added.

In 2002, Old Harbour High lifted the Ben Francis Cup, their biggest major football title to date in history. It was a euphoric moment for the entire community. And with such piece of history etched in the minds of the players, the coach says the boys are now motivated to replicate the achievement of 16 years ago.

“We looking at a more attacking formation because this is a knockout,” he said “You can’t go into a knockout looking for a draw; you have to play to win.”