Late goal earns draw for Calabar

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Excelsior High virtually booked their place in the second round of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup urban area senior schoolboy football competition after playing to an enthralling 2-2 draw with Calabar High yesterday at the Excelsior playing field.

Calabar's goals were scored by Kevaughn Atkinson (6th) and Wilbourne Williams (87th), while Neco Brett (39th and 55th pen) provided Excelsior's responses.

The draw saw Excelsior maintain their lead atop Group C with 26 points. They are followed by Charlie Smith (25 points) and Calabar (23 points) with one round of games to be played.

Calabar entered the game knowing they were most in need of all three points, as their final-round match is the toughest of the top three, as they will be up against fourth-place Innswood (19 points).

Calabar were first to get on the scoresheet when Atkinson's well-place 25-yard free kick had Excelsior's keeper Jonah Morgan beaten in the fifth minute.

Penalty

The half continued with both teams exchanging attacks until the 39th minute, when Excelsior were awarded a penalty after Cleious Benjamin was adjudged to have handled in the box. Excelsior's captain Brett placed his spot kick well to the right of Calabar's custodian Bradley Allen.

Excelsior took the lead 10 minutes after the half-time break. Brett expertly dispatched his second penalty of the match after the ball was again handled in the box.

Calabar looked on their way out of the competition but were given a lifeline three minutes before full-time. Williams arrived in the 18-yard box area undetected to slot home from a corner kick from eight yards out.

Calabar's coach Alrick Clarke was naturally disappointed with the result but even more so with the manner in which the goals were conceded.

"I am very disappointed. I think we scored two good goals but they got two penalties," Clarke stated. "In these games the rules need to be applied correctly. The ball wasn't going anywhere towards goal, it was going across but that's the way it goes," he bemoaned.

Lebert Halliman, coach of Excelsior, had nothing but praise for both teams.

"I think both teams fought gallantly and must be commended," Halliman cited. "I guess five games in about eight or 10 days for them (Calabar) really took its toll and I think that made the difference today," he added.

Yesterday's results

• Group A: Camperdown 0 Jamaica College 3; Waterford 3 St Mary's College 1; Oberlin 2 Cumberland 5
• Group B: Jose Marti 0 Bridgeport 1; Tivoli 1 Vauxhall 1; Dunoon 0 Ascot 0.
• Group C: Excelsior 2 Calabar 2; Papine 0 Charlie Smith 8.
• Group D: Mona 1 Penwood 2; Meadowbrook 1 Holy Trinity 1; STATHS 4 Pembroke Hall 0.
• Group E: Donald Quarrie 1 Ardenne 3; St Jago 1 Spanish Town 0.
• Group F: St Catherine 0 Campion College 1; Eltham 1 Hydel 0; Kingston College 1 Jonathan Grant 0.