Photo: Kimani DeCombre scores an easy tap in at the back post passed Khari Williams to give Excelsior High the lead against Ocho Rios High in the 5th minute of their ISSA/FLOW Super Cup game at Sabina Park on Friday evening. Excelsior went on to win the game 5-0.
Spectators were treated to a sumptuous meal of goals in the opening games of the ISSA/FLOW Super Cup at Sabina Park on Friday evening. Excelsior High outclassed their rural opponents Ochi Rios High 5-0 to march on easily to the next round of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/FLOW Super Cup.
Excelsior High demonstrated why they are a force to be reckoned with after a firm display in front of their small but vibrant supporters. The Mountain View Avenue based team started the game like a house on fire and was rewarded for their effort in the 5th minute when Alain Skerrit whipped in a teasing cross after a foul was committed on the edge of the box. The Ocho Rios High goalkeeper got caught out of position, giving Kimani DeCombre an easy tap in at the back post. Ocho Rios High failed to get a foot-hold in the contest and were punished further for some sloppy play. In the 12th minute. Cadine Graham bundled home a loose ball after it fell kindly to him during a 6 yard box melee.
The first timers to the ISSA/Flow Super Cup looked better going forward but were very atrocious at the back. In the 27th minute they managed to force Excelsior High custodian into a save. Ochi Rios High were done and dusted a minute from the half hour mark when Ryan Spence picked up a ball from the edge of the box, opened up his body and curled a well placed right footer past the out-stretched arms of the busy Khari Williams to make it 3-0. Excelsior, who have only lost once this season, in a penalty shootout, hardly broke a sweat in the first half.
Excelsior picked up where they left off in the second and made it 4-0 in the 49th through Chad McKen. Coach and former Reggae Boy Shavar Thomas shuffled the pack in an effort to give some players some minutes. Substitute Raewin Senior a national representative both in cricket and football put the icing on the cake in the 87th minute after receiving a sublime pass from Ryan Spence to blast home from 10 yards.
Excelsior’s winning coach Shavar Thomas lauded his team for a stellar performance. “We wanted to start well by getting an early goal which we did by getting not one but two.”
Coach of Ocho Rios High Carlington Dodd, felt his team paid too much respect to the opponents. “We backed off and gave them too much space which killed us,” he stated.
In the day’s second game Wolmer’s Boys trounced another first timer Little London High 6-0. Wolmers coming off a disappointing penalty shootout loss to their North Street rivals Kingston College In their last knock out competition took out their frustrations on little known Little London.
The goals started pouring in when Andrew Daley finished off a brilliant pass from Alphanso Gooden by sliding a firm shot under the arms of Clifford Clarke, the Little London keeper. Wolmers grew in confidence, enjoying the lion’s share of position and always looked like the next team to score. This was proven right after Rivaldo English hit a ferocious first timer from the edge of the box. The ball firmly struck the arm of Hakeem Blair in the box. Referee Gawane Scott was in a good position to spot the infringement and awarded a penalty to the Wolmerians. Alphanso Gooden, as cool as the nose of a polar bear, dispatched the penalty to the right of the keeper for a 2-0 lead.
Little London, the youngest team in the Dacosta Cup with mainly 4th formers will be a formidable force next season if they manage to keep their team together. They put up a fight and you could see flashes of brilliance by Dadrian Davis who was pulling the strings for the visitors.
Alphanso Gooden was on the score sheet again in the 53rd minute following a scrappy finish from close range and the game was out of the reach of Little London at this stage.
Hatrick hero Gooden further rubbed salt into their wounds after collecting a cushioned header from English to finish expertly from 10 yards for his third of the afternoon.
A jealous English weighed in on the action in the 77th minute to humiliate the keeper when he wrong footed him to make 5-0. In time added on he further embarrassed him with an audacious chip from the edge of the box leaving an hapless Clarke sprawled out on the ground staring at a colorful Nike ball lodged in the back of the goal. Wolmers progress confidently and will await the outcome of the Kingston College v Vere Technical game to know their quarter final opponents.
In other games played on Friday Bridgeport High upset DaCosta Cup favourites Dinthill Technical 1-0 while Cornwall College comfortably saw off Denham Town 3-0 with a hat-trick from Jordaine Fletcher at Catherine Hall.
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