A new champion will be crowned in the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup 2013 competition after early season favourites Wolmer’s Boys, advanced to the final with an epic win over St. Georges College in the semifinals at the National Stadium on Saturday.
A new champion will be crowned in the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup 2013 competition after early season favourites Wolmer’s Boys, advanced to the final with an epic win over St. Georges College in the semifinals at the National Stadium on Saturday.
The superlatives have been exhausted in trying to describe what was truly one of the most enthralling games in schoolboy football as Wolmer’s dethroned the reigning champions while setting themselves up to win both corporate area crowns this season.
The game was filled with end to end action as two ‘football playing’ teams put on a clinic for the rabid spectators who gobbled up a true football spectacle worth going miles to see.
STGC showed the mettle of true champions, leveling the game at 1-1 and again at 2-2, before themselves taking the lead twice, only to have Wolmer’s wipe it away on both occasions before an equally dramatic penalty shootout decided the fate of both teams.
Demar Rose, who has been in inspirational form in midfield for Wolmer’s all season, opened the scoring in the 26th minute before the lanky STGC striker Oshane Boothe pulled the ‘Light Blues’ level in the 31st minute.
An own goal by STGC ,put Wolmer’s ahead for a second time in the 36th minute, a lead they held to the half time break.
More drama unfolded midway the second half when two goals, just three minutes apart, from Martin Davis and Boothe, who was scoring his second of the game, put the defending champions in control of the match. By then the spectators were on the edge of their seats and the STGC faithful at the top of their lungs.
Wolmer’s are a different animal this year compared to last and the hunger and desire has been telling as the season has worn on. Kamario Osbourne’s equalizer in the 83rd minute epitomized the true spirit of the Ludlow Bernard coached team, who have dedicated the season to the mother of Rose who passed away a few weeks ago.
STGC captain Ryan Miller, put the defending champions ahead once more scoring two minutes into extra time, but with just four minutes remaining defender Kemo Wallace dragged Wolmer’s back into the contest and set up the dreaded penalty kicks.
It was deja vu all over again for STGC who had lost five days before to Excelsior on penalty kicks in the Walker Cup. Skipper Miller was the first to take for STGC and his miss followed by that of two goal hero, Boothe set back St. Georges College. They managed to score the next three to claw their way back into the contest but their fate was never in their hands.
Hakeem Smith watched as his teammate missed the fourth kick for Wolmer’s and STGC convert their fifth to put the game squarely on his shoulders. He calmly stepped up to finish with aplomb, sending the Wolmer’s fans into wild celebrations.
Wolmer’s will now face the team they defeated last season to claim the Walker Cup title when they take on Jamaica College in the finals on Saturday.
Photo: Romario Bigsby is hunted down by Jahiel Hyde of Wolmers in the Manning Cup semifinals on Saturday. Wolmer’s won 4-3 on penalty kicks.
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