Vauxhall squad depth receives failing grade

There was a scarcity of players on Vauxhall High's bench during their ISSA-FLOW Manning Cup match against St George's College at Winchester Park yesterday, as Keon Broderick's team could only name three reserves. One of these was an outfield player turned goalkeeper for the game.

Vauxhall's regular goalkeeper Kachieve Wright had been carrying an injury for a couple of weeks, but Broderick said that after a number of tests, he was cleared to feature in yesterday's game, which they lost 3-0 to the Georgians. When he was not on the ground writhing in pain, Wright could be seen hobbling around in front of his goal, before he was eventually substituted for outfield player turned goalkeeper on the day, Malique Powell.

Powell made an error in judgement, which saw him out of position leading to Georges' second goal, but Broderick told Star Sports that it was down to his lack of experience.

"We basically put him in a position he is unfamiliar with," he said. "He made a mistake and that caused the second goal. That player (Powell) is an outfield player. We came into the season with only one keeper. He (Wright) suffered an injury in preseason. We're trying to nurse it as much as possible, but it just did not work. He played about 45 good minutes for us (yesterday) but it just did not work out our way."

Lacking depth

However, Broderick said that he would not use that as an excuse to not try to make the next round of the competition.

"On the bench, we only had two outfield players and we're lacking depth in that department, but, nonetheless, we're here, and we're planning to work hard and fight our way through to the second round," he shared.

He added that the team's lack of depth came down to various reasons.

"We have a number of problems," he said. "Players have grade problems and therefore, a number of players are out. Other than that, we have injury problems as well and that's why the depth of the team is so weak."

But Broderick showed sympathy for his players in their defeat.

"In terms of how the team played, the spirit, the fight, the aggression that they showed, I am pleased with that aspect."