Michael McLean, Freelance Writer

Frome Technical's Obrian Woodbine scored in his team's 4-3 win over DeCarteret College. - Adrian frater

Frome Technical beat DeCarteret College 4-3 in an exciting Ben Francis Knock Out match in the ISSA/Pepsi/ JN daCosta Cup schoolboy football competition at St. Elizabeth Technical yesterday to advance to the next round. They will meet St. Elizabeth Zone E winners, Munro College, at the same venue on Saturday.

Obrian Woodbine, captain Demar 'Makellele' Howard, Sedan McCreath and substitute Clovis Crooks scored for the Boysie Nicholson-coached Westmoreland team, while utility player Dean Gayle got a brace and Sandre Wilson scored the other for the Manchester team.

"We played a very disciplined game and kept possession of the ball and the guys played a very fighting game and we came out on top," said coach Nicholson.

"Well, we must give credit to DeCarteret, they are a fighting team, especially in the second half they kept fighting every step of the way."

Nicholson added: "We have to improve our game for us to win this competition."

Meanwhile, coach of DeCarteret College, Pawsey Lyn, blamed his defensive players for their lost.

"I believed why we lost the game is because of our two wing backs and the Frome team got the ball behind these players and that's why we lost the game," Lyn said.

Both teams started out trading attacks, but Frome took the lead in the seventh minute when national under-20 player Woodbine received a ball on the right flank and kicked past goalkeeper Delroy Dillion.

In the 34th minute, Gayle equalised after he ran on to a ball which fell from the hands of the Frome goalkeeper, Odane Seraton, to make it 1-1 at half time.

The second half saw a more tense battle and Frome skipper Howard made it 2-1 in the 52nd and two minutes later Crooks added another. In the 69th minute, Gayle got his second goal, but McCreath made it 4-2 before Wilson got DeCarteret's third goal.