Excelsior draw first blood over Jonathan Grant

It took longer than they would have liked but a late second-half surge powered Excelsior High to a 3-0 win over Jonathan Grant their ISSA/Manning Cup second round first-leg second-round tie played at Stadium East.

Aseany Richards, Jhevon Smith and Jahiem Flemming all scored for the school from Mountain view as they finally made the chances they created count after moments of being wasteful throughout the game.

Excelsior Technical Director Lebert Halliman was pleased with the result and more specifically the success of the tactical change made at the half to unlock Jonathan Grant's defence. "I brought on young [Daniel] Clarke and made a change in midfield. We weren't' pressing enough to get the ball forward in midfield. We made those two changes and it paid off," he said.

Jonathan Grant coach Oneil Thomas lamented the lack of discipline from his team after managing to get to half-time with the score at nil all. "What changed was the discipline to continue what we planned to do. We wanted to see if we could leave with a goalless or a one all draw, but it didn't work," Thomas said.

Early pressure

Excelsior dominated the game from the opening whistle. Rotaughn Joseph's header banged off the cross while Smith had a shot blocked as the Jonathan Grant defence absorbed the early pressure. The visitors finished with four total attempts, none of which managing to test Excelsior goalkeeper Nate Grace.

After the break, Excelsior attacked aggressively but were unable to finish the many chances that fell their way. Flemmings especially had his opportunities with a shot going straight to the goalkeeper and also had a head powered over the bar. But the Mountain view-based side was finally rewarded for their persistence when Clarke's cross managed to find Richards free in the box and his shot from close range fired past goalkeeper Jordan Taylor to put the home side ahead.

Three minutes later, Smith was sent through by Flemmings and his composed finish doubled their advantage and left Jonathan Grant reeling. Flemmings was finally rewarded for his hard work with a goal of his own in the fourth minute of added time to take a commanding lead into the second leg.

Earlier in the day, St George's edged Mona High 2-1 in their second-round first-leg match. Jamone Shepherd and Captain Nathaniel Campbell led the way for the 2018 finalist coming back from a 1-0 deficit after Dellneill Pinnock gave Mona the lead.

At the Prison Oval, the game between St Jago and Charlie Smith was called off after 13 minutes due to heavy rain and the other game in the double header between Hydel and Jamaica College was rained out.