KC slams Spanish Town High in Manning Cup opener

Photo: “From the baby line” – Omar “Cheeky” Thompson  scores his first of two goals from almost on the goal line as KC began their quest for the Manning Cup with a comfortable 6-0 win over Spanish Town High on Saturday.

Goals either side of half time from Omar “Cheeky” Thompson and one each from Rashawn Mackison, Renato Campbell, Trayvone Reid and Dwayne Atkinson helped ease Kingston College past a stubborn Spanish Town High in their Group E Manning Cup opener on Saturday.

It took all of 31 minutes for KC to break down Spanish Town despite dominating possession virtually from the first whistle. Despite camping out in their opponents’ goal area, the Purples were unable to break through until Thompson finally slammed one pass Javaughn Bhalai just after the half hour mark. A drive down the right flank from captain Javain Brown resulted in a pin point cross to Thompson whose first effort was blocked by Bhalai, but the rebound came straight back to the player who made no mistake the second time around.

The expected goal glut did not materialize in the first half however as Bhalai continued to defy KC up to the interval.

Things got easier in the second half as last year’s leading scorer in the Manning Cup, Mackison finally found the back of the net two minutes after the restart. Given time and space in the box to control and pick his spot, the striker made no mistake slotting home after a series of misses in the first half.

Renato Campbell, KC’s best player on the day took control of the ball right before firing home with the left from inside the box in the 51^st minute as the flood gates opened up. Thompson got his second, a virtual replay of Campbell’s effort three minutes later.

Comfortable ahead and no threat coming from the opponents, Ludlow Bernard rang the changes to give playing time to more players and Reid wasted little time to get on the score sheet. The wily little winger, slithered pass five defenders inside the box, before calmly placing the ball in the back of the net to make it five.

Devaunte Nembhard was the only Spanish Town player to get a look in after a mix up in the KC defence but his weak effort was easily handled by Chadeen Rodriquez in the KC goal.

Atkinson who is only in third form could not have asked for an easier chance to get his first ever Manning Cup goal, scoring from virtually on the goal line to complete the scoring in the match.

In other games played on the day from Group E, Excelsior beat Ardenne 3-0 while Greater Portmore and Norman Manley drew 1-1. In Group A – Tivoli blanked Kingston High 4-0, Haile Selasie clipped Innswood 1-0 and Wolmer’s slammed Pembroke Hall 8-0.

In Group B the defending champions JC were held 1-1 by STATHS, Bridgeport thumped Donald Quarrie 7-0 while Mona clipped Papine 1-0.  The other group to be contested on the day was Group Group G where Charlie Smith clobbered Cedar Grove 7-2, Calabar whipped Jonathan Grant 5-0 and Eltham crashed 4 unanswered passed Campion.