Photo: Kingston College hat-trick hero Rashawn McKinson attempts to go by Campion College goalkeeper Christopher Lynch, looking on are Campion defenders Jamie Hudson #4 and Jordan Scott. KC won the game 6-0.
Kingston College continued their perfect start to the ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup competition with a third victory on the trot, crushing Campion College 6-0 on the back of a Rashawn McKinson hat-trick at the Stadium East field on Monday.
It was a totally one sided affair in which the ‘Purples’ dominated their opponents on a slick, wet surface that stood up well to early afternoon showers.
Despite controlling the game from the opening whistle, it took KC up until the 17th minute to create the first real opening against a compact Campion defence, when Jahmal Pusey got in behind the defence, but shot high with goalkeeper Christopher Lynch at his mercy. Two minutes later, the impressive Nickardo Hanchard pulled the trigger too early making the save easy for Lynch. He could have taken the ball closer to goal before trying his effort.
In the 21st minute, McKinson got his first sight at goal when he was played in by Richard Byfield but Lynch was equal to the task, saving with his feet at the near post.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 38th minute when Hanchard let fly from distance and the ball rocketed into the back of the net past a hapless Lynch who had no answer this time around.
Renato Campbell should have gotten his name on the score sheet following good work from Javain Brown down the right flank. Brown’s inch perfect cross required only a tap in, but Campbell stretched at the point of impact and his effort crashed into the side netting.
McKinson then got his first of the afternoon with a simple side footed effort from close range, showing Campbell how it is done. Two minutes later he capitalized on a miscued effort from Brown for another close range tap in to make it 3-0 at the break.
Campion changed their defensive tactics for the second half, playing an extremely high line instead of the low press game of the first half in a bid to stop their opponents from scoring. The new strategy paid dividends for a while as they kept catching the KC attackers in the offside trap.
But in the 65th minute, McKinson claimed the match ball with his best goal of the afternoon, a thunderous strike that flew into the far corner of the net leaving Lynch rooted to the spot.
The hat-trick hero would then turn provider, doing all the dirty work before laying it on a platter for substitute Denilson Simpson to fire home from inside the six yard box to make it 5-0 in the 78th minute.
The scoring was complete four minutes from time when Simpson broke down the right flank before putting in a cross that was steered home by a Campion defender. It was the biggest win of the season for the Ludlow Bernard coached team.
“This was one of the games we were expected to win, what I was worried about was the manner in which they would have done it,” said Bernard.
“After the second goal the team would have settled a bit, because from the opening whistle I was pressuring them to play a disciplined game out there because I know what it is like when the game appears to be an easy one. But I guess after they settled the team game came into play, there was a lot more discipline and a lot more structure.
“We have to maintain the discipline we have to keep working. The good thing today was that I was able to rotate some of the players so I got to know them a little bit more in different conditions,” he said of the team performance.
“McKinson has been the most consistent goal scorer for the team in the preseason and he is probably one of our main midfield players. The good thing about him is his ability to get inside of the box and usually you don’t find a lot of midfield people making that kind of transition, so we are looking for lots of good moments from him,” Bernard said of the individual effort of his top goal scorer on the day.
The win moved KC to nine points at the top of Group G on goal difference ahead of Camperdown who also have nine points but have played a game more. Next assignment for the team from North Street is a tricky away fixture against Jose Marti on Saturday.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login