Photo: Defending Manning Cup champions Jamaica College.
The ISSA/Flow Manning Cup semi-finals take place tomorrow with a double header at Sabina Park .Defending champions Jamaica College will come up against surprise semi-finalists Denham Town at 3pm, before the seemingly unstoppable St. George’s College face a fighting Johnathan Grant at 5pm.
Jamaica College runs the risk of finishing the season empty handed and this should provide enough encouragement to get their perfect game together come tomorrow. They need to show a big response to the thrashing they received in the Super Cup final and restore confidence as they seek to defend their title.
JC will look to captain Allando Brown, Donovan Segree and Tyreek Magee to be at their best and make a proper statement against Denham Town.
Denham Town has played some good football this season and defeated St. George’s College in the first round of the competition. They have not looked to any one player and have come together in a team effort to reach the semifinals. They appear to be somewhat over matched against the champions and will have to play a disciplined game on the expansive Sabina Park pitch to come away with a famous win. Coach Omar Edwards will have to show all his guile to pull off another giant killing act like he conjured up at Winchester Park.
St. George’s College against Johnathan Grant could be easy for the Light Blues but it could also be a difficult fixture for the North Street team. STGC who will have to do without their vice-captain Greggory Messam Jr, who suffered an injury to his ankle in the final of the Flow Super Cup. STGC though has enough players to get the job done against Johnathan Grant who almost let it slip against Calabar. Leading 2-0 at half time and needing only a draw, the team from Spanish Town were pegged back to 2-2 and almost lost the game at the death.
If the Jonathan Grant midfield goes missing again like they did against Calabar, they will be ripped to shreds. Tactical discipline will be required if they are to spring a surprise.
Alex Marshall, Shevon Stewart and Akeem Prawl will all have important roles to play for the Neville Bell coached team in the quest for victory.
Jonathan Grant (JG) has looked good as a unit this season but may lack the quality it takes to beat St. George’s College who is looking to be the first team to win all four trophies on offer.
Credit must go to ISSA for listening to the supporters to stage the semifinals at Sabina Park, the reborn home of schoolboy football in Jamaica.
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