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Maldon make historic advance
October 16, 2025
MALDON HIGH CREATED history - marching into to the round of 16 for the first time - with a compelling 3-0 win over Knox College in the second round of the ISSA daCosta Cup football competition yesterday at Irwin High School.
Maldon, who won 2-0 against Ferncourt High on Saturday, will join Ben Francis Cup KO champions St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS).
STETHS beat Knox College 4-0 on Saturday and Ferncourt 6-1 yesterday. Both Knox and Ferncourt are eliminated.
A sizzling performance by Manning's High put a spoke in the wheels of B.B. Coke High, ending their hopes of reaching the round of 16 with a 2-0 victory at STETHS.
UNBEATEN
In Group 3, Manning's, who remain unbeaten, will be joined in the round of 16 by Christiana High, who defeated Belair High 2-0 yesterday. Both are tied on six points, with Manning's leading on goal difference. Manning's have not conceded a goal. The game was delayed owing to heavy rainfall, lightning and thunder.
In muddy conditions, Manning's scored the first goal courtesy of Dainton Williams, who controlled the ball, which was deflected, then powered a shot into the goal in the 25th minute. Leontony Coley doubled the lead from a corner delivered in the 45th minute, to shatter B.B. Coke's dreams.
Carly Brown, B.B. Coke's manager, was given a red card for dissent in the 78th minute.
While Manning's were deserved winners for dominating the game, B.B. Coke may have themselves to blame as well, as they wasted clear-cut chances throughout. According to the head coach of Manning's, Patrick Graham, the team emphasised the importance of not losing, rather than winning.
"We knew it would be a difficult one (game). We knew that the B.B. Coke team was down, but definitely that they weren't out, and this is their home game," said Graham.
"We didn't necessarily need to win, it is a game we could not lose. Therefore we decided how we wanted to approach it," Graham said.
LAPSES
Meanwhile, B.B. Coke's head coach, Fitzroy Ambersely, said the team played well but lost because of defensive lapses.
"We started on a high note during the rain. We changed up the system a lot but we were just a little bit harsh in the defensive zone, where we gave away two shots," Ambersely said, noting that those were the only two shots that Manning's took.
Ambersely stated that Manning's defensive strategy of setting six players at the back and four up front thwarted their attempts.
"We played well but we did not get the chance to score, although we took the chance towards goal," added Ambersely
In Group 2, Rusea's High survived a potentially devastating end to their campaign with a 3-0 win over Petersfield yesterday, to send them packing.
In Group 1, Kemps Hill, who were also on the verge of elimination, broke the hearts of Cedric Titus, giving them their second loss to boot them out with a 6-4 victory.
In Group 1, Frome clipped Cornwall 2-1 to climb atop with six points. This was the first loss for Cornwall since the beginning of the season.
The second round resumes Saturday.
