Eltham stay perfect with victory over KC

Robert Bailey, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Second-half goals from substitute Stephen Morant and Ramiz Gordon carried Eltham High to 2-0 victory over Kingston College (KC), in their Group F encounter of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup urban area senior schoolboy football match at North Street yesterday.

Morant scored in the 67th minute, while Ramiz netted in the 76th minute.

The victory was the fourth straight of the season for the St Catherine-based school, which now has a perfect 12 points.

Gregory Allen, Eltham's coach, said: "My guys really stayed disciplined today and that is the most important thing because we collected three points and I am very happy for that," said Allen.

"I think that once we stay positive and stay disciplined, this team will definitely go a far way in this competition because we have a group of boys who work very hard for us on the field."

Allen added: "In the first half, KC were much more aggressive than us and we injected some players and it worked out for us and I am really happy for the victory."

Poor conditions

Both teams failed to create many clear-cut chances in the first half, partly owing to the poor conditions of the field and the heavy breeze that prevented the players from controlling the ball comfortably.

Despite that, Eltham still managed to create the only chance of the half, but Dwayne Williams, who got a clear header near the goal, nodded the ball onto the crossbar.

Allen, then brought on Morant at the start of the second half, a move which quickly paid dividends for his team. Morant, who is the shortest player on the field, jumped above two KC's defenders to head home a well-measured cross from Williams past goalkeeper Javaughn Buchanan to give his team the lead.

Ramiz then doubled Eltham's lead nine minutes later, when he outjumped three defenders to head home powerfully past Buchanan.

Trevor 'Jumpy' Harris, the head coach of KC, said despite his team's defeat they played well.

"I think it was a fairly good performance, but it was some little lapses in terms of set plays and we didn't defend properly and we paid the price," said Harris, whose team has seven points from four games, after suffering their first loss this season.

He added: "All hats off to Eltham because they played a good game, but we just have to move on from here.

"I think that going forward we have to win all of our games, but we need to start concentrating and play some better football and score some more goals."

Yesterday's results

Group B: Ascot 1, Tivoli Gardens 1; Bridgeport 2, Dunoon 0

Group D: Norman Manley 3, Holy Trinity 0; St Andrew Technical 4, Meadowbrook 0

Group F: Eltham 2, Kingston College 0.