Photo: Nathan Jones outpaces Akeem Morris during the Manning Cup game between Kingston College and Haile Selassie on Tuesday. Jones hit a brace as KC won their first game in the second round by 5-1.
The North Street based schools, Kingston College and St. Georges College both registered comprehensive wins in Group J action in the ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup on Tuesday. KC whacked Haile Selassie 5-1 while STGC put away a fighting St. Jago 3-0. It was the first win for KC in all competitions since the end of the first round of the Manning Cup, while it was the second time STGC was stopping St. Jago this season.
Kingston College got going early as they found the back of the net in just the 4th minute of the game through striker Dashawn Donaldson. KC leading goal scorer Rashawn Mackison doubled the score two minutes later to give the Purples a comfortable lead early on.
Kingston College had a lot of opportunities to add to their lead in the first half as the Haile Selassie defence was not discipline and they were caught out of position for most of the first half. But the shot shy KC strikers spurned chance after chance as they beat their opponents offside trap with regularity.
After the break KC wasted little time to add to their tally as they scored in the 46th minute, when Nathan Jones remained composed in the 18 yard box to put the ball in the back of the net, after receiving a brilliant pass from Dashawn Donaldson.
Two minutes later Jones doubled his tally and scored KC’s fourth, guiding a loose ball in the box in the back of the net as the Ludlow Bernard coached team threatened to run riot.
Mackison got his double in the 62nd minute when he headed home a cross from the right. Selassie did not look like they were interested in playing any football as they were just flat for most of the game.
But the massive scoreline that threatened failed to materialize as the Purples returned to their wasteful ways of the first half.
Halie Selassie pulled a goal back with the last kick of the game when Hamish Smith’s magisterial free kick from the top of the 18 yard box flew into the back of the KC net leaving the custodian a mere spectator.
The goal could prove costly to Kingston College as the group may be decided on goal difference.
In the second game, St. George’s College turned back a plucky St. Jago to sit atop the group with maximum six (6) points from two games. It was a game that was highly anticipated as the very attacking STGC came up against a very confident St. Jago.
The match was played with a very high tempo as was expected from both teams in a very crucial match. The first thirty minutes was entertaining although there was not much goal scoring opportunities, both defence looked solid and was very organized.
The Light Blues was given the lead by their captain Shevon Stewart, who received a ball just at the top of the box and dribbled past two defenders before rounding the goalkeeper and with two retreating defenders on the line fired the ball into the back of the net in the 39th minute. It was a goal of sheer class from arguably the best player in the league.
At the resumption, both teams did came out fighting like they did in the first half with both defence remaining disciplined.St. Jago’s Maleke Miller was red carded in the 68th minute a telling blow to the Monk Street based Institution that was already trailing 1-0.
Alex Marshall got on the score sheet in the 80th minute, chipping the ball over the advancing St. Jago custodian. Ronaldo Watson then got his first goal of the season in the 89th minute dismissing his marker then clinically firing the ball in the back of the net to wrap up three points for the Neville Bell coached team.
Kingston College and St. Georges College will resume their Battle of the North Street Giants next week in the final game of the round. KC will have to beat STGC by three clear goals and hope that St. Jago do not rout Haile Selassie in order to advance to the semifinals.
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