Battle on for Walker Cup final berth

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

The battle for a spot in the final of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Walker Cup will take centre stage today, when three former champions, Jamaica College (JC), Bridgeport, Eltham and Norman Manley do battle at the Spanish Town Prison Oval.

Defending champions JC and Norman Manley, who are in search of their first hold on the crown, will meet in the curtain raiser at 12:45 p.m. before Bridgeport and Eltham tackle each other in the St Catherine derby at 2:45 p.m.

The derby is expected to be a very keenly contested affair. The Anthony Patrick-coached Bridgeport progressed to the semi-finals after blanking St Andrew Technical 2-0 courtesy of a brace from Kenrick Preston.

"It is going to be a very intriguing game, a tactically and exciting encounter," Patrick stated.

"Hopefully we will go out there, perform well and see if we can come away with a victory, but it won't be easy," he added.

Oozing with confidence

Eltham needed penalties to get past Excelsior in their semi-final encounter, after the two were locked at nil-all after full and extra-time. The Gregory Allen-coached Eltham should still, however, be oozing with confidence following their impressive run in the first round of the Manning Cup, which saw them emerge with a maximum 36 points.

"Any game against a team like Bridgeport is going to be very competitive, it is going to be tough. We just have to go out there and work hard," Allen emphasised.

Their task will be an even more challenging one, as six of their players are doubtful for the game, including captain Dwayne Williams.

JC will enter their game against Norman Manley as over-whelming favourites after ousting St Georges College from the competition. Goals from Junior Flemming and Shamal Thomas saw the Alfred Henry-coached team get by St George's in the quarter-finals.

Delroy Brown, assistant coach of JC, intends to treat the game as a final, and is expecting an intense encounter.

"At this stage of the competition it is like a final, we are taking every single match from now on like a final. The approach will be intense, as we can't relax in matches like these at all."

Norman Manley, who advanced to the Walker Cup as one of the best second-place teams, also scored a two-nil victory over Waterford, thanks to goals from Lamar Thompson and Dean Phillips.

Norman Manley will take confidence from their semi-final victory over Waterford. Waterford had defeated JC in their final Manning Cup first-round game to top group A.

Miguel Coley, coach of Norman Manley, is cognisant of the treat posed by their opponents but will be looking to draw on their own strengths.

"We are aware of the fact that they have a wonderful team and a very organised team but we are going to concentrate on our team," Coley said.

"We will try to maximise our strengths and minimise the weaknesses that we have and I think with that we can really go out there and win the game."