Laing delivers as STATHS book spot in semi-finals

St Andrew Technical High's (STATHS) Omari Laing's participation in this season's ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup has been limited but yesterday he reminded his team and his school just how influential he can be in crucial moments.

Laing's 89th-minute winner, his second of the season, proved to be the difference as STATHS booked their place in the semi-finals for the fifth straight year with a 1-0 win over Wolmer's Boys in their quarter-final game at Stadium East.

Laing, who has been used sparingly this season, came on as a second-half substitute to give the Wolmer's backline problems and proved to be the difference in a game that required patience and composure, according to head coach Philip Williams.

Laing admitted that it was the best goal that he has scored so far in his Manning Cup career, one that Williams concurs

"He came up trumps for us today and that's a very important goal, one that he will remember for a long while," Williams said.

Laing's limited appearances have been by design, partly because of the team's increased strength from the off-season and also to manage him as he and the school body continues to recover from the loss of his brother Omar who died tragically in April.

While it has been a difficult process for him and the school, Williams said that it was important to not put pressure on him and ensure that on a game-by-game basis he is ready to be a game changer when called upon.

"I think the entire STATHS family is also recovering. Omar would have been a very important piece of this puzzle that we have been putting together. Emotionally I think he is a little bit under pressure where that is concerned and we just have to gather around him and rally around him," Williams said. "We have to assess his condition, and his state of mind and I think most of the time that is the reason why he hasn't been used more."

Meanwhile, Jamaica College, their opponents in their final quarter-final group game, also booked its place in the semi-finals, after defeating Haile Selassie High 2-0 in the first game of the Stadium East doubleheader. Kevaughn Wilson opened the scoring in the 28th minute and Jamarly Bennett added another in the 62nd in a comfortable win.