Magee stars for JC as Coley finally gets hands on Walker Cup

Photo: Jamaica College celebrate their third hold on the ISSA/FLOW Walker Cup following a 2-1 win over Kingston College at the National Stadium on Tuesday night.

Miguel Coley finally got his hands on the one schoolboy football trophy that has eluded him in his time in charge at Jamaica College when his team defeated defending champions Kingston College 2-1 in the final of the ISSA/FLOW Walker Cup competition of Tuesday night inside the National Stadium. A frist half brace from the inspirational Tyreek Magee put JC in the drivers seat from early and a late penalty strike from Trayvone Reid proved to be just a consolation as the boys from Old Hope Road claimed the first piece of silverware for the season.

KC who were the only remaining unbeaten team in urban area football went into the game as heavy favourites but were denied their usual fast start by a JC team that was quicker to the ball in the early stages. Driven by Tevin Rochester and Saqlain Waul in midfield the ‘True Blue’ were able to get their oppponents on their heels dominating the KC midfielders and getting Magee and Norman Campbell on the ball in threatening areas.

JC showed the greater attacking intent with Magee testing the KC custodian Chadeen Rodriquez from distance which was followed by a header at the near post by Captain Maliek Howell which Rodriquez did well to save. Another chance then fell to Magee just outside the area but he rushed the shot and hammered it high and wide.

But JC were soon rewarded for their persistence when Campbell broke down the left flank and crossed for his strike partner Magee who turned it in at the back post, not for the first time this season, to give his team a 1-0 lead with 24 miutes played.

The goal seemed to awaken the sleepy KC midfield and a driving move from Nathan Thomas saw him pick out Mackison whose qucik shot was parried to safety by 

The JC fans were in full voice going into the half time break as Magee gave them more reasons to shout when he blasted home pass the hapless Rodriquez one minute before the interval.

The second half was about containement for JC who wisely played behind the ball, clogging up the passing lanes and making it difficlut for KC to get anything going in attack.

Half time substitute Horace Ramsay who had come in for Omar Thompson benefitted from a knock down from Renato Campbell but he dragged his left footed effort wide of the upright.

With his top players failing to spark on the big occasion Ludlow Bernard went to his bench for answers to force a turnaround in fortunes.

Mackison got a rare sight at goal but his scooped shot crashed against the crossbar and went behind for a goal kick.

Then with 11 minutes to go Reid gave his team a lifeline after he picked himself up off the floor to slot home a penalty he had won.

It would prove to be too little too late for the defending champions as JC gained only their third hold on the urban area knock out title.

“We are happy to win,” said a delighted Coley. “But it is more than just the trophy. I want people to understand that we are the true champions and that these boys need have the winning mentality and going into the Super Cup, the Manning Cup we want this momentum to propel us.”

Both teams will now turn their attention to the ISSA/FLOW Super Cup which begins on Friday.