Rusea's maul Green Island 10-0; Camperdown High School surprise JC

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

Defending champions Rusea's made an auspicious start to their season to the Issa/Gatorade/Digicel season, hammering their Zone B counterparts Green Island 10-nil at the Montego Bay Sports Complex yesterday.

Last year's golden boot winner, Brian 'Rambo' Brown, did the damage for the 'Russians' scoring five goals, as he sounded a warning to the defenders he will be facing this season.

Brown scored in the second, 18th, 27th, 29th and 71st minute. Jovian Jones (52nd, 85th, 90th) scored a hat-trick while Anthony Walker (23rd) and Keanu Williams (81st) also netted for Rusea's.

The 'Russians', who are being guided by the experienced duo of Emerson 'Diggy' Henry and Anthony 'Follies' Williams, led 5-0 at the half-time break, with Brown accounting for four of the goals.

Former champions Camperdown High School started their Manning Cup campaign in fine style, when they defeated defending champions Jamaica College (JC) 1-0 in their Zone D season-opening fixture at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in St James.

After enjoying the better of the first-half action but failing to make it count on the scoresheet, the Christopher Bender-coached Camper-down struck early in the second half when Ricardo Oldham took possession on the edge of the penalty area and fired home powerfully.

"We are pleased with today's performance but we are not going to allow the euphoria to go beyond today because this is only the first game of the season," said Bender. "Our aim is just to stay focused and take it one game at a time."

The game started at a brisk pace with good end-to-end action and from one such attack, Camperdown just missed taking the lead. Oldham sprinted into the goal area in the fourth minute, but fired his shot across the face of the goal.

Camperdown wasted a second chance through Oldham in the seventh minute. He capitalised on a defensive mistake, but under pressure from the recovering defenders, struck the ball wide of goal.

Jamaica College came to life in the 15th minute and got their first clear opportunity on goal when Nicholas Scott got away before the goal but drove his shot straight at the goalkeeper. Four minutes later, JC should have scored when Scott took a rebound before the goal, but fired over the crossbar.

Good chance wasted

Late in the half, JC and Camperdown wasted good chances. First, in the 40th minute, Scott took a rebound but fumbled badly with the goalkeeper at his mercy. Two minutes later, Camperdown's André Sterling dribbled into the box, but failed to get off an accurate shot.

Jamaica College started the second half by wasting a clear-cut opportunity in the 50th minute. Scott pounced on a cross before the goal, but his powerful header was directed straight at the advancing goalkeeper.

Camperdown countered in the 52nd minute and took the lead following an excellent build-up. Oshane Williams broke on the right flank and fired the ball across the face of the goal. The ball deflected to Oldham, who fired powerfully past the goalkeeper, making the score 1-0.

Finding themselves down, JC lifted the tempo of their play, but had difficulties piercing the compact Camperdown defence. They got a chance to equalise in the 76th minute, but Michael Peart fired wide of the goal.

With time ticking away, Camperdown got a chance to end the game in fine style in the 89th minute. Williams took a rebound on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot flew wide of the target. Moments later, the final whistle came.