Stgc!

[Yuttie]

Kick off! ...Schoolboy football season begins today

Champs St George's raring to go

Andre Lowe

Saturday, September 12, 2009

After getting the better of rival Jamaica College in last year's final, defending Manning Cup champions St George's College are determined to extend their championship run as they hunt their 20th lien on the much-sought-after title.



The team returned to winning ways last season after a 15-year hiatus and team official Fernando Douglas is expecting the Neville 'Bertis' Bell-coached outfit to repeat the feat after retaining much of last year's team.

Said Douglas: "Our chances of winning the title are just as good as they were last season. The guys have worked well and we are just focused and will be taking it one game at a time."

The North Street-based team will face Eltham in today's Manning Cup opener at Jarrett Park and Douglas is well aware of the threat that the Spanish Town-based school poses.

"Eltham are a good team... we know that they can cause trouble (because) we played them in the semi-final last year and they gave us a strong challenge, but we are ready," Douglas said.

The 'Light Blues' will, however, have to do without influential duo Shamar Shelton and Kamal Marshall who have migrated.



Eltham High made a good impression last season and shook the proverbial applecart after romping to the semi-finals after going through the preliminary round without suffering a loss.

The team has much of that team intact and will be hoping to go at least one step further and get to the final this season.

[#1Fan]

I understand it was a 1-1 tie with Eltham. Can you give some feedback on STGC's performance?

[Yuttie]

according to Sickko

Contrasting results!

St James triumph, but STGC draw as defending champions open schoolboy football season

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com

Sunday, September 13, 2009

MONTEGO BAY, St James - Last season's schoolboy football champions had mixed results yesterday as the 2009 ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning and daCosta Cup season kicked off at Jarrett Park.

DaCosta Cup champions St James High recovered from a slow start to trounce Spot Valley High 4-0 after Manning Cup and Olivier Shield champions St George's College came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Eltham High, who ended the game with nine players.
Eltham High's Jerome Grant (right) and St George's College's Jehavon Francis battle for a ball in yesterday's opening Manning Cup game played at Jarrett Park. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo: Paul Reid)


Rushane Clarke, in the 34th minute after picking up two quick yellow cards, and Shawn Elliston four minutes into the second half after an off-the-ball incident in his own penalty box, were the players sent off for Eltham High.

St George's coach Neville 'Bertis' Bell admitted that his team did not get off to the start they expected. He told the Sunday Observer: "Not a great start but we came out with a point."

He said he thought they played well in parts. "There were a couple of chances that we should have scored and Eltham fought really hard."

Glenville Holmes, the assistant coach at Eltham, said they were happy for the result. "Considering all the things from the game we are quite grateful for one point, one is always better than none."

After losing a second player early in the second half, Holmes said the instructions to the players was to "stay behind the ball and maintain their shape and build it from there".

St George's had the better start and took over the midfield early, making inroads into the Eltham area. But it was Eltham who took the lead, thanks to a mistake by goalkeeper Windell Reid in the 25th minute.

Reid failed to collect a high ball, which slipped through his hands, and Damarley Dawkins pounced on it in a flash and powered it into the goal.

Eltham should have added another goal two minutes later, but a low, hard shot from Elliston flashed inches wide of the far left upright.

After losing a second player early in the second half, Eltham were forced to defend and St George's pushed forward to the half line and created a number of chances.

They had to wait until the 80th minute before getting a goal, however, and it came with Eltham down to eight players as a defender had to leave the field due to an injury.

Romario Jones finally beat goalkeeper Reshaun Dunn from close range as the Eltham defence failed to clear a ball out of their area.

St George's created two more chances in the next five minutes, the best from Jones, who hit a powerhouse shot unto the underside of the cross bar which was then cleared for a corner.

In the daCosta Cup opener St James appeared to sleep-walk through the first 60 minutes before exploding for four goals in 13 minutes.

John Barrett opened the scoring in the 68th minute when he headed a rebound into the goal after a shot from Allan Ottey hit the bar and came back out.

Ottey, last season's top scorer, got his first of the new season a minute later when he caught the Spot Valley defence napping and had time to slip the ball under the diving Lamar Taylor in the goal.

Keneil Kirlew added another in the 74th minute when he beat Taylor from close range, while newcomer Roshane Reid scored on his debut when he reacted first and got to a rebound, giving the custodian no chance.

[Willi]

More:



St James whip Spot Valley
Published: Sunday | September 13, 2009


Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau:Rural champions St James High School started the defence of their daCosta Cup title in impressive fashion with a 4-0 win over Spot Valley but their urban counterparts, Manning Cup champions St George's College, had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Eltham High as the 2009 schoolboy season kicked off at Jarrett Park yesterday.

Captain John Barrett, Allan Ottey, Ricardo Morris and Roshane Reid were on target for St James.

"We did not play as well as we could but we are extremely happy for the win," Pastor Hugh Solomon, the coach of the St James High, said.

In the first half, both teams appeared tentative and despite creating chances at opposite ends, composure was lacking. In fact, towards the end of the half, Spot Valley looked like taking control as they launched a few spirited attacks.

under pressure

It was all St James High in the second half. In the 57th minute, they took the lead when a shot from Reid struck the upright and skipper Barrett fired in the rebound.

St James went further ahead in the 59th minute when Reid broke free on the right flank and sent Ottey clear with a perfect pass. He controlled elegantly, dribbled two paces and fired home.

Morrison took a neat pass from Reid and, under pressure in the 64th minute, scored to make it 3-0 and St James completed their goal-spree in the 71st minute when Reid pounced on a rebound and slammed home.

In the first game, Eltham took an early 26th-minute lead through Damarley Dawkins but lost two players - Rushane Clarke and Shawn Elliston - to reckless red cards which weakened them significantly.

well-deserved equaliser

St George's took charge in the second half and got a well-deserved equaliser through Romario Jones in the 76th minute.

"We could have scored several goals when our opponents went down to nine players but we were too anxious and as a result missed a few easy chances," said Neville Bell, the St George's coach. Eltham's coach Gregory Allen was naturally disappointed, especially after his team had the lead and looked so good. However, he praised the character of his players. "We showed a lot of character as we kept on fighting even when the odds were against us," said coach Allen.