Wolmer’s walking wounded into clash vs STATHS

Wolmer's Boys ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup quarter-final journey has not gone off to the most promising start, walking wounded with injuries that have left head coach Jerome Waite very concerned.

They are hoping that the three days since their last match last Saturday will be enough to recover as they face a crucial Group 2 quarter-final clash against St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) this afternoon at 3:15 at Stadium East.

Wolmer's were undone by many-time champions Jamaica College 4-1 in their opening game of the quarterfinals. The losers lost their starting goalkeeper Roan Melford before the game during the warm-up and their captain Dante Dacres who scored the equaliser had to leave the field because of asthma complications.

It has been the story of Wolmer's season so far according to head coach Jerome Waite who said that they began the campaign with more than 10 players struggling with knocks.

"We have a lot of injuries. We started the season with 13 injuries and in the last game players were forced to leave the pitch. But we still have two games to go. All is not lost," Waite said.

Waite's primary concern will be the health of both Melford and Dacres as they hope to keep their semi-final chances alive and look to extend what Waite has called an unexpected stay in the quarterfinals.

"We weren't expected to reach here based on how the media looked at it. But we put up a stunning fight (against JC)," Waite said. "The recovery is one thing but it is the injuries that we have to attack first. The doctors and the physios will be working overtime."

Meanwhile, STATHS are riding high after a 3-2 win over Haile Selassie High, thanks to a second-half brace from Andre Salmon. Pleased with the way his team battled in their opener, head coach Phillip Williams says the intensity with which they played is something that should be expected from their opponents as they hope to return to the last four.

"There are no restrictions on my players. I allow them to express themselves and every time you see a STATHS team out there expect some amount of excitement when they play," Williams said. "It is a matter of keeping them focused. The job is not done. It's about keeping them grounded, keeping the belief."

In the other game in the group, JC could take one step closer towards the semi-finals if they can get past Haile Selassie in the opening match of the double-header at 1 p.m.