St George's, Calabar make winning start

Former champions St George's College (StGC) and Calabar began their second-round campaigns of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Gatorade/ Digicel Manning Cup competition with contrasting victories over Penwood and Camperdown, respectively, at the Constant Spring Sports Complex yesterday.

In the opening game of the double-header, Oshane Boothe netted a second-half double to lead StGC to a comfortable 4-0 win over Penwood. Boothe scored his goals in the 51st and 76th minutes.

Kendon Anderson (44th) and Davion Kelly (68th) were the other scorers for the Neville 'Bertis' Bell-coached StGC.

"I am happy with the result, but I don't think we played very well. I thought Penwood came with the breeze behind them and we gave them too much room to play."

Bell added: "We only have three games before we get to the semi-finals so there is no room for error, because we have to win the games against Camperdown and Calabar to go through."

In the feature game, Calabar registered an exciting but close 2-1 win over Camperdown. Javon East (45th) and Chevonne 'Messi' Marsh (87th) were the goalscorers for the Marvin Tate-coached boys from Red Hills Road. Rickardo Oldham scored the consolation goal for Camperdown in the 89th minutes.

coach pleased

"I am very pleased, especially playing under these conditions, because we came out short in terms of players," said Tate. "We had players out through injuries and cards, but the other guys who came in stood up and they fought hard to get the victory."

Tate added: "Coming off a 5-0 thrashing against St George's, any coach would be very pleased to get a victory, and so I am happy."

Calabar dominated the early exchanges, but failed to convert a number of clear-cut chances, due to poor finishing from their forwards. However, the fleet-footed East made up for his earlier misses, when he fired home from close range past goalkeeper Rashaun Patterson on the stroke of half time.

Camperdown were reduced to 10 players in the 70th minute when Ojarie Smith was red-carded for violent conduct. Calabar took advantage of this, as the skilful and speedy Marsh mesmerised the Camperdown defenders with his quick dribbling skills and off-the-ball movements, in the process doubling his team's lead three minutes from time, when he slotted home from point-blank range.

However, Oldham gave Camper-down a glimmer of hope as he fired a 25-yard free kick a minute from full time.

"I thought we were lethargic in the first half, and that is a consequence of playing two back-to-back games at 1 p.m.," said Christopher Bender, coach of Camperdown.