Following their impressive come-from-behind 3-2 triumph over eight times champions Rusea's High last week, Spaldings High secured their second straight win in Group Two of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel daCosta Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over Zone E winners Lacovia in the first game of a double-header at St Elizabeth Technical yesterday.

At the same venue, St Thomas Technical kept their hopes of advancing to the semi-finals alive with a 2-0 win over Frome Technical.

Yesterday's victory was Spaldings' third straight at STETHS as Lacovia were also beaten 1-0 in a group of 16 match recently.

Andre Salmon in the 24th and substitute Kevon Moore in the 76th got the goals for the Alexander Morgan-coached team. "I am very happy for the win. We came to STETHS today to make a statement. The last time we played Lacovia at STETHS, they said they were the better team, so we came back here today to beat them again to show them that we are the better team," coach Morgan said.

Very disappointed

The win put the Clarendon-based team into the semi-finals with one game remaining against Dinthill on Saturday.

Lacovia's coach Lance Morgan was very disappointed with his team's performance.

"I am very disappointed because the team didn't play to instructions today, they played without energy. I think Spaldings played like they wanted it more and therefore they came out the winners," coach Morgan said.

In the day's second match, goals from Maghate Duncan and Keneil Dennis gave St Thomas a 2-0 win over Frome Technical.

The crucial win and three points revived St Thomas' hopes of a historic daCosta Cup semi-final berth, even though they trail joint Group-One leaders Lennon and St James High (four points each) by a point. Those two teams battled to a 0-0 draw at Jarrett Park, a result which means only Frome have no chance of making the semi-final cut.

The St Thomas, Frome encounter was a game of contrasting halves. The first half provided no goals and little excitement for a sizeable crowd.

St Thomas came out more organised and focused on attack. Frome actually looked dangerous each time they got Hugar Hall into attack, but it was his missed opportunity with a powerful drive outside the 18-yard area that was turned immediately into a successful counter-attack. With the Frome players slow to get back into an organised defensive position, Duncan pounced on goalkeeper Romaine Bowers' huge clearance upfield, ran at goalkeeper Fabian Saunders and kept his cool to slot home in the 55th minute.

St Thomas' second goal in the 62nd minute was almost a direct replica, with Dennis emulating Duncan's dribble but this time forcing his way past two defenders before scoring. St Thomas can qualify easily with a win against Lennon at Jamalco this Saturday, or could qualify with a draw once Frome win against St James.