Photo: Alex Marshall prepares to deliver a cross for St. Georges College in the final of the ISSA/FLOW Super Cup. Marshall scored two goals while he created the other two as STGC whipped defending champions Jamaica College 4-0 to claim their first hold on the title.
The twinkle toed Alex Marshall put on yet another devastating display for St. Georges College as he led his team with a brace,while creating the other two goals, as the Light Blues ran out comprehensive 4-0 winners against defending champions, Jamaica College, inside the National Stadium on Saturday.
The game between the two schoolboy football giants was expected to be close, however it was anything but, as the expertly coached STGC blew away the challenge of JC with consummate ease to gain their first hold on the trophy commonly referred to as the Champions League of schoolboy football.
The first chance of the game fell to the defending champions when Cheavoun Crooks found himself in acres of space dead centre of the goal after a mistake in the STGC defence but he could only manage to drag the shot wide.
JC would pay dearly for that mistake as from their very next attack, the Light Blues struck. Marshall broke down the left and took Ajeanie Talbott to the cleaners before driving into the box. Talbott was beaten all ends up and held on to the shorts of Marshall, wrestling him to the floor. The penalty call was clear and so too the yellow card that would come back to haunt the defender.
Regular penalty taker, Gregory Messam Jr, confidently struck the penalty home giving Jahmali Waite no chance in goal. STGC 1-0 JC and only five minutes played in the game.
Shevon Stewart, the captain of St. Georges College, who was doubtful before the game because of a groin injury, showed little signs of discomfort as he ran at the JC defence and in the 15th minute after a give and go between himself and Hakin Williams drove deep into the box down the right, drawing the defenders to himself, before crossing to Marshall who took a touch before firing home his first for the night to make it 2-0.
Against the ropes but not yet out of the contest, the defending champions rallied and Donovan Segree was left holding his head, when his left footed strike went just wide of the far post.
Stephon Gilzene, who has been terrific in defence for STGC all season, produced a massive goal line clearance to keep the score at 2-0 in the 27th minute and then moments later John Wilson showed real bravery to dive at the feet of Segree after Crooks had weaved his way into the box and crossed to the penalty spot.
Almost on the stroke of half time, Donovan Dawkins used his strength to shrug off a defender but his shot was always rising and never threatened the STGC goal.
Marshall got back in the thick of things in the second half and went to work on Talbott, again running rings around the defender who was clearly wary of getting too close. But he did bite the bait that Marshall gave him, fouling the tricky forward yet again, which resulted in a second yellow card and a sending off in the 52nd minute.
As if to rub salt into the wounds of the champions, Ronaldo Watson then fired home the free kick from 22 yards, Waite not getting anywhere close to the shot. St. Georges College was three goals to the good and not yet done.
A give and go between Marshall and the influential Stewart at the top of the box, saw the wily Marshall go around the back of the JC defence and curl another left footed strike inside the far post to make it 4-0 and cap off a fine man-of-the match performance as he got his second of the contest.
Bell then took the time to remove Stewart from the contest, no doubt preserving the striker for the other critical games left to be played.
From there on the boys from North Street managed the game well and despite territorial dominance from JC, they were never really troubled as they claimed a well deserved victory.
“It’s an elated feeling, all things possible through Christ…the guys deserved it, I thought they played well and all credit must be to them, excellent work from them,” said STGC assistant coach Marcel Gayle.
While insisting that it was a team effort, Gayle could not deny the influence of Marshall on the outcome of the match.
“He is phenomenal and one can just wish all the best for him, (hopes he) stays healthy and keeps applying his training. It’s a team effort and credit to all the guys that put in the work today,” Gayle insisted.
Both teams have advanced to the semi-finals of the Manning Cup and appear to be on a collision course in the final of that competition as well. The Super Cup is the first in the hunt for four available titles by the Neville Bell coached team.
Wolmers claimed third place in the competition when they defeeated St. Jago 2-1 in the first game of the day.
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