Michael McLean, Star Writer

Former champions St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) opened their 2008 ISSA/-Pepsi/Digicel schoolboy football season with an impressive 5-0 thrashing of 10-man Maggoty High School in Santa Cruz yesterday.

In another Zone E encounter Lacovia beat Black River 2-1 while the game between many-time champions Munro College and Balaclava was not played because of missing identification cards.

STETHS, now coached by Andrew Edwards, opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Deshawn Brown picked up a long pass from Miguel Barnaby and kicked past Jerry Reid in the Maggotty goal.

STETHS continued to dominate and Denmark Gillings made it 2-0 in the 14th minute.

Demar Lawrence then made it 3-0 from the penalty spot before half-time after he was fouled in the area by a defender.

The second half was less attractive. Brown made it goal number four in the 65th minute minute and substitute Kevin Farquharson who scored 11 goals for the Alpart Essex Valley team at the Norway Cup competition put the icing on the cake in the 75th minute.

"I thank God for the first win and it is a great start," coach Edwards said.