XLCR cruise into semis
Excelsior High eased into a semi-final place following a 3-0 beating of Ascot High in yesterday’s rescheduled ISSA/LIME Manning Cup football match at the Courtney Walsh Oval on Mountain View Avenue.
The lively Kareem Banton opened with a goal in the third minute to settle Excelsior against the backdrop of a decision taken by ISSA on the morning of the encounter to shift the second-round game from the Constant Spring field.
Tevin Jackson and Damani Morais followed with strikes in the 22nd and 32nd minutes to round out the scoring before the break.
The Mountain View Avenue-based team had several chances to increase the lead in the second period but were let down by faulty finishing and a lack of intensity.
Excelsior have an unassailable nine points from three matches in Group I, ahead of Innswood High (three), Denham Town High (three) and last-placed Ascot (zero).
Only the top team in each second-round group qualifies for the semi-finals of the Manning Cup.
Excelsior’s coach Leebert Halliman said his team “played poorly” and lamented that the second-half showing suggested that “players seemed satisfied with reaching the semi-final”.
The veteran coach also noted the “taxing” sequence which sees Excelsior playing “four matches in 11 days” might have been a factor.
Ascot’s coach Osmond Dunkley said his team did well, despite coaching changes throughout the season. “We played good but there were hitches along the way that set us back this season. We had three coaching changes,” Dunkley told the Jamaica Observer.
Excelsior will face Jamaica College in one semi-final in a rematch of the Walker Cup Knockout clash in October, which the former won 2-0 to progress to the last four.
In the other tantalising Manning Cup semi-final, defending champions St George’s College tackle KO Cup holders Wolmer’s Boys.