Their final group game might not be the last time these two Zone 6 rivals lock horns in the David Thompson Memorial Constituency Council’s Football Classic.
St Michael South Central forward Jadai Clarke scored a stunning second half brace, including a decisive 90th minute strike in Monday’s otherwise meaningless 2-1 victory over a St John side that also advanced to the knockout stages.
Playing at Valerie on the final night of regular season action, the two teams were merely vying for position having already qualified for the Sweet 16.
But the game looked anything but trivial – especially with MPs Richard Sealy and Mara Thompson leading the charge from the sidelines – and their players ready to man the trenches.
From the opening kickoff it was clear neither side was willing to give ground as both defences were quick to shut down any threatening build-ups.
The result was a sloppy first half that featured no real scoring opportunities outside of Akeem Rouse’s early blown chance that would’ve put St John ahead within the first five minutes.
St Michael South Central didn’t look likely to make him rue the blunder, though, as Clarke hit the crossbar on an easy attempt in the box before comfortably sending another shot over the top of the bars.
He finally got on the scorer’s sheet in the 56th minute when St John turned over the ball deep in their own half and the ball found him unmarked in the area for an easy poke past custodian Bernard Howell.
Rouse made up for his earlier gaffe 14 minutes later, getting his head on a well-struck corner from Diego Ward to beat opposing keeper Wayne Williams.
That goal looked to stand as the game’s last as Clarke hit yet another shot over the top after being played on from a delightful through-ball from Jabar Greene in the dying minutes.
But just as the contest seemed headed to a certain draw, Clarke got his eventual reprieve, flicking on a tremendous cross from playmaker Walton Burrowes on the stroke of regulation time.
Earlier, Terry Odle pounced on a defensive blunder two minutes after half-time for the game’s lone goal as St Michael North West progressed with a 1-0 win against a St Philip South team that failed to advance past the group stages.
St Philip West booked the final spot in the knockout round after edging Christ Church East 1-0 in the lone game at Brereton.