St. Catherine's Tyrone Thompson (left) puts a stop to the run of Hanover's Gavin Seaton in second-round quarter-final action of the JFF-Pepsi Under-15 competition yesterday at the Spanish Town Prison Oval. St. Catherine won the encounter 1-0. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A SECOND-HALF strike by Ricardo Bedward helped St. Catherine maintain their share of the top spot in the JFF/Pepsi Under-15 football competition as they got the better of visitors Hanover 1-0 yesterday at the Spanish Town Prison Oval.
In an evenly-balanced game which saw limited scoring opportunities for the most part, Bedward was able to make the difference in the 48th minute when he profited from the work of Kenny Lee.
Lee expertly worked his way down the flank to provide a well-weighted cross which an unmarked Bedward fired home, giving his team the lead and ultimately the victory.
The loss now all but sees Hanover eliminated from a chance to make the semi-finals as they have managed no wins in three games. While St Catherine are keeping pressure on group leaders Kingston who are ahead by goal difference - both teams look likely to advance.
ST. ANDREW REMAIN THIRD
The KSAFA side maintained its position at the top with a 3-1 victory over St. Mary at the Westmoreland Oval. A Romario Brown strike put the visitors ahead in the 10th minute but the home team equalised from a Dwight Leith penalty three minutes later. Mark Robinson then gave Kingston the go-ahead goal in the 73rd minute while Brown sealed the victory for the group leaders in the 80th.
St. Andrew remain third in the quarter-final round after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Portland on a wet Constant Spring Field.
In a game that St. Andrew seemed the dominant team for most of the game, brilliant defending by the Portland players prevented the margin from being greater.
Persistent St. Andrew were rewarded in the 65th minute when Trevan Evans long-range effort from just outside of the 18-yard mark got the better of an outstretched Marvin Campbell in Portland's goal.
Campbell was beaten again in the 74th minute when Keithy Simpson won a ball from a Portland defender in his defensive third and placed a soft shot to the right of a hapless Campbell.
The day's other scheduled game between Clarendon and Trelawny was postponed due to a referees seminar in those parishes.
