Photo: Charlie Smith goal scorers Andre Williams and Tyrick Reid helped their team to a 2-0 win over Calabar High in Group G action in the ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup on Friday. Charlie Smith now move to the top of the group on goal difference both schools have 18 points.
Charlie Smith High school avenged a 3-1 loss to Calabar High in their opening fixture of the ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup season by carving out a straight forward 2-0 win at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Friday. Spurred on by goals from Tyrick Reid and Andre Williams, Charlie Smith moved to the top of Group G based on goals difference, as the two schools are now level on 18 points.
Captain Romeo Guthrie, in the middle of the park along with Zidon Clarke on the right flank and Andre Williams on the left flank took the game to the Calabar defence from early, letting the visitors know that they would be in for a tough afternoon.
Kevin Kinghorn had the first chance to break the deadlock for Charlie Smith when he was left unmarked at the back post following a long throw, but somehow managed to head wide of the goal when unchallenged. Calabar should have made them pay shortly after when a free kick from the skipper Hakeem McKoy whizzed across the face of goal and three players in green and black failed to make contact, as the entire Charlie Smith defence stood frozen.
Charlie Smith went straight up to the other end to create yet another opportunity but Andre Williams must still be wondering how he failed to open his account after he shot wide of the far post, from inside the six yard box.
Calabar’s Kobie Henry was then given enough space to turn and run at the defence before unleashing a right footed effort that had Tuishane Edwards scrambling across the face of his goal, as the ball went just wide of the post.
Williams must have thought it would not be his day when he headed over from just under the cross bar, when it was harder to miss than to score, sparing the blushes yet again, of a suspect Calabar defence.
Ultimately, the game’s opening goal came from an error in judgment. A Calabar defender thought the ball was going out of play but Clarke persisted on the play and was able to roll the ball across the face of goal unhindered to an unmarked Reid for a simple side foot finish in the 31st minute.
Charlie Smith held the lead to the half time interval and started the second half with just as much control of the game as they ended the first.
Williams finally got his name on the score sheet with a well taken goal in the 56th minute. Closing in on the blind side of the defence, the winger got ahead of two defenders to sweep home a cross from Clarke from the middle of the box, to double his team’s lead.
Substitute Andre Channer should have pulled a goal back for Calabar, but he mishit his shot when left unmarked inside the box and the ball skewed horribly wide of the goal.
From there on Calabar never looked like scoring as the home team threatened to add to their lead on at least four other occasions. In the end it was a deserved three points for the Jerome Waite coached unit who now move to the top of the group for the first time this season.
“From the very first whistle Charlie Smith just looked the better team, we played with more purpose, the fact that we lost the first game of the season to Calabar, it was more than revenge to win this game. The good thing about this game is that we did not concede, so we really have to lift our hats to the players,” said a confident Jerome Waite.
“Winning the zone is the objective and moving on to the next round and these players look better and better each game they play so, we expect them to continue,” Waite concluded.
Calabar’s assistant coach, Yannick Morrison believed his team was overawed by the occasion.
“Our minds were not on the game, it was more focused on the home crowd and I thought that is where we fell down,” Morrison admitted.
“You win some and you lose some which means that the race is not over,” he stated.
In other games played in the group, Jonathan Grant edged Campion 1-0 to move up to 9 points while Eltham spanked Cedar Grove 5-1 to move up to 15 points.
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