KC, JC earn narrow wins

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

It took a last-minute stoppage-time goal from Kingston College's captain Richard Wilson to maintain their perfect run in the 2011-12 senior schoolboy football season.

The Purples fought off a spirited challenge from St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) to emerge 3-2 winners in their Inter-Secon-dary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup second-round Group K encounter yesterday at the Constant Spring playing field yesterday.

KC's triumph has left them level on points atop the group with defending champions Jamaica College, who narrowly got by Excelsior 1-0, courtesy of an eighth-minute strike from Junior Flemming in the second match of the double-header.

Squandered advantage

Wilson's goal saved KC's blushes as they had squandered a 2-0 advantage, which was given to them through goals by Romario Williams (ninth minute) and Jason Greenland (19th). STATHS clawed their way back through goals from Tevin Ramsay (31st) and captain Trey Salmon (71st).

STATHS were, however, denied a well-deserved share of the points by Wilson's last-gasp goal, which kept the Purples on course to win the urban area schoolboy double, having already booked their place in the Walker Cup KO final.

Wilson was pleased to have found only his second goal of the season at such a critical stage.

"I feel great, it's a good feeling to fight and lead my team and I will do anything for my team, as I really want this Manning Cup," Wilson expressed.

KC's head coach Trevor 'Jumpy' Harris was left disappointed with his team's approach after having established a 2-0 lead.

"They (KC) started out well, but then complacency set in and it became a difficult game as they relaxed, and that's what caused the whole closeness of the game to the end," Harris explained.

STATHS coach Philip Williams knows it will be difficult to advance from the group as only winners progress.

"This is a big setback because there are only three matches for this round. But today I think we got chances that we should have put away which would have put the game in a different light," Williams reasoned.

JC barely hang on

In the second game, JC barely edged the first half by virtue of having scored, but the second stanza was a different story, as Excelsior held the upper hand for the majority of it, but could not find the breakthrough despite conjuring up some good scoring opportunities.

Excelsior's coach Baris Johnson was disappointed that his team never emerged from the contest with at least a share of the points.

"It is just unfortunate that we came out on the losing end because when you look at the game we should have at least got a point," Johnson stated. "I think we played a very good second half, it is just unfortunate (that) we didn't get a goal."

JC's assistant coach Delroy Brown was grateful for the three points, but believed his team's performance left much to be desired.

"Bouncing back from the Walker Cup (loss) is one thing, but I am still a bit disappointed with the performance. But three points is three points," Brown shared.

"This was the most important match, the first match, and with the three points this sets us up for a good round," he added.