Photo: Merron Gordon and Omar Wedderburn will match wits in the first rural area schoolboy football final today. First time finalists Lennon High will try to dethrone six time defending champions STETHS in the ISSA/FLOW Ben Francis Cup championship game at Manchester High starting at 2:30pm.
Defending ISSA/FLOW Ben Francis Cup champions St. Elizabeth Technical High School will be seeking to make it seven straight holds on the title when they do battle with first time finalists Lennon High School at the Manchester High School grounds on Friday starting at 2:30pm.
STETHS will start as overwhelming favourites to win yet another title but Lennon High are defiant that they can spring an upset and claim their first senior schoolboy football title.
STETHS were taken all the way to penalties by Clarendon College, in a classic semi-final on Monday at Manchester High. They led the game 2-0 before being pegged back to 2-2 and then trailed 3-2 in extra time before sending the game to penalties and prevailing in the shootout.
Lennon had less drama in making their first final, putting in a disciplined display to upset favourites Cornwall College 1-0 on Tuesday.
Both teams go in search of the first rural area title of the season and STETHS with their pedigree are odds on favourites to lift the trophy.
STETHS are the defending champions for both rural area titles and led by captain and seasoned campaigner Chris-Andrew Dixon will feel they have enough experience on the field and in the technical area to win today.
Lennon High school on the other hand have only ever played in a final once before in the history of the school, when they narrowly lost the DaCosta Cup final 1-0 to Rusea’s High back in 2010. The lack of history in this competition means Lennon starts as underdogs but also with little pressure from expectations of a win.
STETHS coach Omar Wedderburn will be banking on the firepower of his team to get them over the line while Merron Gordon will be banking on another disciplined defensive display from his troops, led by captain and centre half, Fitzroy Cummings to deliver the upset and take a first ever title to the Hill of Mocho in Clarendon.
Both teams have to travel one parish over, from either direction, to get to the neutral venue and so they will be expecting tremendous fan support this afternoon. Both schools have vibrant supporters so the noise level is expected to get to deafening by the time the game gets underway.
One thing is for certain, at the final whistle, history will be created! Can STETHS makes is seven straight or will Lennon grab their first ever Ben Francis Cup title?
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