St Catherine’s system working for Patrick

Walker Cup champions St Catherine High completed half of their preliminary round fixtures in the Corporate Area's schoolboy football Manning Cup competition, without conceding a goal, and coach Anthony Patrick is crediting the system he employs as a major factor.

The St John's Road-based St Catherine remain the competition's only team without a goal breach, while they have racked up four victories in five matches. They drew 0-0 with Jamaica College (JC) and defeated St Jago 1-0, Cedar Grove 6-0 and Holy Trinity twice with an identical 3-0 score.

St Catherine played with Jevin Parkinson and captain Swayne Blake as central midfielders, with Parkinson roaming and Blake providing the hard tackles to ease the burden on their back four.

"We play with a lot of youngsters at the back because they are some 15- and 16-years old around there. This is their second year as last year was their first year and we won the Walker Cup with them and they are back this year again and I am pleased.

"They really putting good shifts out there and the central midfielders that we are playing with, they are doing a good job in front of them. I think we have a very good defensive line. So far five games without conceding, I must say thumbs up to them," Patrick said on Friday after St Catherine handed Holy Trinity another 3-0 whipping.

Captain Blake was also upbeat about the effectiveness of St Catherine's defenders, although he believes they have not been perfect, despite not conceding any goal.

"Out of 100, the defence is 85 per cent and we are working on improving as we don't want to concede any goal. The midfield is the strongest area for St Catherine and (they) push the defence," Blake said.

St Catherine are second in Group B by goal difference as they are locked on 13 points with JC, who have a goal difference of 29, to St Catherine's 13. They are followed by St Jago on four points, Holy Trinity on six, Cedar Grove on three and St Mary's College, who are yet to get off the mark.

Patrick is, however, unperturbed about the goal difference, despite admitting deficiency in their attack.

"When we look at the structure of the team in full, going forward we don't have a No 9. That's something that's plaguing us from season, but we are scoring goals and winning games and that is important.

"I think we have a rounded team. Once we are not attacking, we must defend and this continues to show after five games," Patrick said.

St Catherine are yet to play bottom-placed St Mary's College, whom JC walloped 10-0 and 13-0.