W’ford, JC show heart straight to finals
Waterford and Jamaica College will renew a battle that has been waging over the past few years when they take on each other in this year’s finals of the Digicel/Pepsi/ISSA Manning Cup. Both teams came away victorious after last Saturday’s semi-finals at the Ferdie Nieta Park in Portmore.
In the first of the day’s double header, Waterford and Norman Manley locked horns. In what was one of the best low-scoring matches seen in the Manning Cup to date, it took a piece of individual brilliance from the Waterford captain and talisman Andre McFarlane in the 86th minute to produce the goal which gave them the 1-0 victory. Both teams started the game evenly matched with neither squad able to break down the defences of the other. The game looked destined for added extra time when McFarlane collected the ball at the top left hand corner of the box and proceeded to dismiss three defenders, one after the other, on his way to goal. Upon approaching the advancing goalkeeper, McFarlane kept his head and found space at the keeper’s near post to expertly slot home. The joy raised on the faces of the Waterford fans was immeasurable, especially after receiving the news earlier in the week that one of their utility players Okeese Lewis had been gunned down.
In the feature game, Bridgeport and Jamaica College met for the second of three times this season. Again Bridgeport failed to capitalise on opportunities and allowed a determined JC contingent to emerge victorious. At the start both teams were flying, determined to break the deadlock early and strong play from Bridgeport’s Damien Williams and JC’s Ashani Walker were leading their respective teams hopes. By the second half, Bridgeport looked a tired bunch, lacking creativity and direction and JC were on the ascendancy. Then, as if something had come over them, JC’s Odane Greenswood and Junior Flemming both saw straight reds after violent play against an obviously tired Williams.
This did not deter the Dark Blues however as they attacked the backline of the Portmore based team relentlessly. Unable to break the deadlock however, the game went into penalties. JC came out victorious with a 4-1 scoreline at the end of it all.
JC and Waterford have for the past few years been meeting each other in the first round of the competition. This year was no different and Waterford seems to have the upper hand where that is concerned. Aside from that, JC is not the same team from the first round as with each match their players are getting better as a team.
Will Lewis’ death be enough to rally Waterford to their first title? Will the two red cards JC picked up be a negative factor for them, or will it push them to an even greater team effort? One thing is for sure, this year’s Manning Cup will be decided by the team with the most heart. Who will it be? We will see come Saturday.