Oldham's quality shines through for Camperdown

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Rickardo Oldham shook off two early-season concussions and the disappointment of missing four consecutive games, as he came on as a second half substitute to score both goals in Camperdown High's 2-0 victory over St Jago High yesterday in their Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup football match at Bellevue playing field.

Oldham, who came on in the 54th minute, opened the scoring in the 81st minute, before putting the game to rest with his team's second goal in the third minute of stoppage time.

Camperdown's victory means the group's Walker Cup representative will not be known until the playing of the final round of games on Saturday, when the Camperdown Road school host Kingston Technical and Jamaica College (JC) welcome Pembroke Hall.

JC lead the group by virtue of a superior goal difference, after getting by Cumberland 4-1 to move to 22 points; the same as Camperdown. St Jago remain third on 13 points, while Cumberland (one) are languishing at the foot of the table.

Kingston Technical (eight points) and Pembroke Hall (six) are fourth and fifth, respectively. Their match was not played yesterday as the latter turned up without socks.

Oldham, who last season represented Premier League outfit Arnett Gardens before sustaining an injury, looked a cut above the rest of the players on the park, as each touch he got on the football spelt danger for the St Jago defence.

First goal

His first goal, which came in the 80th minute, saw him capitalise on a defensive error to pounce on a loose ball in the area and hammer home. His second goal came by way of a 25-yard free kick which St Jago's custodian Evon Brown found too hot to handle, as it flew through his grasp.

The 18-year-old had started the season in similar fashion, as it was his strike that propelled the three-time champions to a 1-0 win over defending champions JC in the opening match of the season. However, he suffered his first concussion in the third game of the season against St Jago. He then suffered a similar injury in his game against Cumberland, but came off the bench in the following game against Pembrooke Hall to score his team's third goal.

"It is a great feeling to come out of injury and, though not quite ready, give my team a victory," Oldham expressed. "Our first objective was to reach the second round of the Manning Cup, which we haven't done in a number of years."

He added: "My personal target was to score in every game that I play, but due to my injury I haven't been able to do that."

St Jago's coach, Jermaine Thomas, was left disappointed with his team's showing.

"If we had won this game we would have had a very good chance to go through as one of the best third-place teams, but we came out here a bit lacklustre and conceded two soft goals," Thomas stated.