St George’s almost in second round with 2-1 win

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October 11, 2022

Photo

Tevin Afflick (left) of Calabar High shields Michael Pennant of St George’s College from the ball during their ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup match at Winchester Park, St. George’s College yesterday. St George’s won 2-1.

St George's College all but sealed their place in the second round of the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup football competition, after coming from behind to turn back Calabar 2-1 at Winchester Park in Group A action yesterday.

Jaheim Rankine fired the visitors ahead from the penalty spot after 18 minutes, but second-half strikes from Joshua Jackson in the 55th and Adrian Reid in the 59th provided the Neville Bell-coached St George's with their sixth win from seven matches.

The North Street school stayed second on 18 points, three behind leaders and neighbours Kingston College (KC), who defeated Waterford 8-0 to stay perfect from seven matches.

St George's assistant coach Marcel Gayle said Calabar threw them off their game for the first half and took the lead, but he believed his players yearned for the win.

"I thought we wanted it more than Calabar today. Calabar pushed us, they pressed us high and they caused us some problems and got us unsettled, but we got our act together, started pushing high and got the ascendency goal. We managed the game from there and got a good victory.

"The good thing is we didn't panic. We stuck to the basics and we knew if we got through the half without conceding another goal, we would go for it, which we did," he added.

Calabar started the better team and their dominance grew as the half progressed.

The Red Hills Road school's consistent threat paid off, as they took the lead when St George's captain Joel Brown handled the ball in the area and Rankine slammed home the resulting penalty to give the Andrew Price-coached Calabar the advantage.

St George's struggled to get into a rhythm and only attacked in spurts, while Calabar with midfielder Rochester Francis pulling the strings and providing the creative spark from midfield, looked a good bet to add to their advantage.

St George's best chance came with the last kick of the half, but Brian Burkett only rattled the bar with a curling 20-yard free kick.

After the break, the home team came storming back and Burkett thought he found the equaliser right from the kick-off but his header was ruled offside.

Dashwn Jacques then hit the bar for Calabar, but immediately after Jackson broke loose and drilled a low shot into the far corner for the equaliser.

A few minutes later, they grabbed the lead when Adrian Reid beat substitute goalkeeper Rameize McKoy with a weak right-footed effort to the far post.

Calabar gave as good as they got and Sheridan Wilson had an effort cleared off the line.

Calabar remain in fourth on eight points, three behind Waterford, but with three games remaining, they are out of the running for automatic qualification.

"I am definitely disappointed after the excellent first half we had. It's the second game in a row we have to be talking about a game of two halves. We dominated the first half and the second half we came out very flat.

"And if you don't take your opportunities early, it will come back to haunt you and that is exactly what happened today," said Price.

In another match, Ardenne and Meadowbrook collected their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw.