Paul Clarke, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A Rushane Scarlett hat-trick was all STETHS needed in their 3-0 ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup football quarter-final round win over Cedric Titus High School at their Santa Cruz grounds yesterday.

Scarlett netted in the eighth, 25th and 37th minutes, as Cedric Titus wilted under intense STETHS pressure.

Meanwhile, at Frome Sports Complex, 2003 champions Frome Technical ran out 2-1 winners over the highly rated Manchester High, with goals from Tevin Williams in the 53rd and Paul Beswick in minute 63. In another game, Glenmuir swamped Bog Walk 6-0 at Brancourt to take control of Group B on goal difference over Frome.

Launching attacks

With star striker Khesanio Hall on the bench for the start of the match, Scarlett and Jamel Sinclair flourished for STETHS, launching a number of attacks but were unlucky not to score two or three more goals, with Cedric Titus sitting deep in defence.

The visitors hardly had time to settle when Scarlett made them pay for wayward defending, when he latched on to a ball and fired into the net, giving STETHS the early lead.

The home side came close to increasing the lead, but Rohan Lindsey fired just off target, much to the relief of the Cedric Titus' players, but they were not to be denied a second goal and it fell to Scarlett, whose shot could not be saved by Duvan Smith in the Cedric Titus goal.

Scarlett's third was a thing of beauty. A terrific pass midway the Cedric Titus half found Scarlett and he made no mistake, slamming the ball beyond the diving Smith to give STETHS an unassailable 3-0 cushion.

Head coach Omar Wedderburn was pleased with the victory.

"Another good win for us," he said. "We did as expected, right now we are ready for another big game on Saturday against Garvey Maceo, and I think that will be interesting."