Stand-in’s hat-trick lifts William Knibb to 6-0 win

A brilliant first-half hat-trick from Jahiem Sankar propelled William Knibb to a 6-0 home drumming of inform Cedric Titus High in their ISSA/Digicel daCosta Cup football Zone C match yesterday.

Sankar, who replaced a card-out Mark Lewis in the starting 11, showed that his four goals in his only other start against Muschett last Saturday were no fluke. This time, he did it against Cedric Titus, who came into the match undefeated and level with William Knibb on 16 points at the top of the points standing.

Sankar doubled the lead for the host, six minutes after Amari Christopher Reid opened their account. He returned for his second in the 20th minute before completing his hat-trick in confidence with a 37th-minute lob over the goalkeeper.

The calm central defender Orville Brown netted his second goal of the season, heading home a corner four minutes before the break.

William Knibb took their foot off the gas in the second half, but showed their defensive prowess by keeping Cedric Titus at bay. Jamar Skyers would put the icing on the cake for the host in the 73rd minute with a tap-in at the back post after a goalkeeper's save.

Sankar, who is flying high on confidence, was happy with his performance in what was the biggest game of the zone.

"It's a good feeling. It wasn't anything much, I just came to execute and that's what I did. I just played to how the team was playing because I know my role and I did it. It was a good team performance and we are all happy," Sankar said.

"There is more to come. Those goals are in the past now I just want to focus ahead," he added.

Sankar has looked the real deal in the absence of Mark Lewis, which coach Dwight Jeremiah describes as a pleasant headache.

"He came in late and had a late preseason. He is the type of striker you ask to play within the frame of the goal. He is not fascinated by fancy play he will shoot because hitting the back of the net is what gets him going," said Jeremiah.

"This is just his second start and this would be seven goals in two games. It's the type of headache a coach wants. Mark Lewis was out carded, Sankar picked up a little knock but when both are fit that's my headache, a pleasant one though," he added.