Charlie Smith makes it three from three in the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup

Photo: Bebeto McDonald scores his second goal of the game for Charlie Smith from the penalty spot to lead his team to a come from behind 3-1 over Excelsior at the Courtney Walsh Oval yesterday.

This Manning Cup match report is brought to you by: Ensure Active Muscle

The only Manning Cup game played on Thursday saw red hot Charlie Smith High school make it three wins from as many games in the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup competition. They came from behind to beat Excelsior High 3-1 at the Courtney Walsh Oval.

Playing in front of a boisterous home crowd, Excelsior, started the brighter of the two and took advantage of a shaky looking Charlie Smith team. They went ahead in the 6th minute when Rashid Anderson lashed home from the edge of the area with a low grounder into the corner of the net. The goal came after the visitors failed to clear their lines from a corner kick.

With loud cheers ringing out from “unda di plum tree” the home team went in search of a second goal as the Jerome Waite conditioned team tried to cope with what was being thrown at them. Led by Samuel Halliman the Excelsior team pinned back their opponents before Shamar Pryce came to Charlie Smith’s rescue.

He along with Bebeto McDonald, took over the midfield and then put the home team under pressure. The Charlie Smith pressure finally told in the first minute of first half stoppage time when Kimani Arbouine bundled home a floated free kick at the back post to make it 1-1 at the break.

With the momentum fully on their side, Charlie Smith went on the hunt for the go ahead goal and found it in the 51st minute when McDonald reacted quickest to a loose ball in the area. The league’s leading goal scorer fired home from close range to send the travelling supporters into ecstasy.

The game was wrapped up seven minutes from time when McDonald calmly slotted home a penalty to get his second of the day and his seventh of the current campaign.

Winning coach Jerome Waite was pleased with the character shown by his team.

“We started out a bit tentatively, the boys never expected this type of home support and Excelsior took advantage of that. Today the team did well coming from behind.”

With a comfortable points lead already built up Waite says they are definitely looking to win the group. The lucrative LIME Super Cup awaits all group winners who are guaranteed cash for playing in that competition.