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We want to send a statement – Manning’s coach Tomlinson
September 16, 2024
Statement delivered!
Everton Tomlinson's charges on The Manning's School's senior team participating in the ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup football competition made clear its message relating to home games.
Led by double strikes from Omar Sommerville and Dainton Williams, the Savanna-la-Mar-based institution went on the rampage in a 9-0 drubbing of Godfrey Stewart High, also from Savanna-la-Mar in Westmoreland.
"We want to send a statement that this is a standard we want to maintain to win every game at home convincingly. Having the opportunity to play Godfrey Stewart, that statement was sent," Tomlinson stated of their emphatic victory.
Interestingly, it was an own goal by Devonte Bernard that got The Manning's School on the scoreboard, the goal coming at the third minute.
Sommerville doubled the scoreline with his first goal at the 28th minute and their team would add one more goal before halftime, through Dainton Williams, who scored at the 36th minute.
Godfrey Stewart's diminutive goalkeeper, La Dino Ricketts, was the most active player on the pitch, collecting and saving goals. His workload increased significantly in the second half.
Manning's went further ahead in the 51st minute when Jodon Grey scored, and Sommerville completed his brace in the 62nd minute. Substitute Brandon Parchment, with his first touch, hit home in the 76th minute to make it six-love.
And the goals kept coming in as Williams again scored, in the 82nd minute, while Rohan Virgo joined the scoring party in the 85th minute, and in the 89th, 15-year-old Rajon McKenzie scored from the penalty spot to finish off his rivals.
"With a win like this, I hope this can boost our confidence and allow us to make progress as we move along," said Tomlinson. "Even though we think it should be more, but if you score nine, you can't complain.
"Some easy chances were missed," he added.
Michael Graham, the coach of Godfrey Stewart, said the average age of his team is 15 years and they have been preparing for two months.
"We never anticipated this scoreline, but that is football, you win some, you lose some. We know Manning's is a superior team. We just need to build a solid foundation so we can compete in the future. There is a lot of room for improvement," Graham explained.
Continuing, he said: "There are some positives we can take from this game. The players were timid at first, but they got more comfortable in the second half. It will take time," he added.
