Charlie Smith swamp Cumberland in wet conditions

Photo: Bebeto McDonald hit a four-timer for Charlie Smith against Cumberland High in a massive 11-0 win at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday.

The rains came just before the start of the Group B Manning Cup encounter between Charlie Smith and Cumberland High at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday but the expected deluge of goals failed to materialise for the home fans for most of the first half.

The visitors put in a stern defensive display to keep the likes of Bebeto McDonald at bay for more than half hour but were unable to maintain a clean sheet to the half time interval. The captain, Odane Smith, put Charlie Smith ahead in the 35th minute when he bundled home a corner kick and this settled the nerves of the home team.
McDonald finally got on the score sheet in the 41st minute when he hooked home a left sided cross and Kimani Arbouine completed the first half scoring a minute before the break.

Any hopes the visitors had of getting back into the game were dashed right after the restart as Raphael Deacon made it 4-0 in the 47th minute. As the afternoon rain eased the floodgates opened and from then on it was a procession towards the Cumberland goal.

Anthony Thompson made it 5-0 in the 51st minute and McDonald made it 6-0 on minute 58 when he got his second of the game. He completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 63rd before Shamar Pryce got his first of two in the 67th minute to make it 8-0. Lejoun Riley made it 9-0 two minutes later before McDonald got his fourth of the encounter in the 73rd.

Pryce rounded out the scoring with five minutes left to play as Charlie Smith steamrolled their way to a massive 11-0 win over an overmatched and inexperienced Cumberland outfit, having seven different scorers in the match.
Speaking after the game, Charlie Smith coach Jerome Waite said he was less concerned with the score line and more focused on his team’s performance.

“At this point in time I am more focused on the system of play, the way the team executed what we want them to do. They (Cumberland) had an outstanding goalkeeper who kept them in the game for a long time.

“We still have a lot to do technically, we need to be more disciplined and maintain our formation.”

Losing coach Wayne Fraser admitted that his team lost to a better opponent on the day. “We were outplayed by a much more prepared team than us. We started our preparations just two weeks before the start of the competition. We have a young unit so hats off to Charlie Smith for a very good performance today.”

Results of other games played on Monday are: Group B – Vauxhall 0-2 Excelsior ; Group C – St.Mary’s College1-2 Innswood, Edith Dalton 2-3 Tivoli and Denham Town 4-1 Ardenne. Group F -St. Jago 1-3 Calabar, Penwood 2-4 St. Catherine and Eltham 0-7 Hydel.