STATHS, STGC share spoils, but JC beaten
JEVONEY Johnson scored a unique goal that should have won the game for his team, but instead St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) had to share the points after playing to a 1-1 result with St George’s College (STGC) in the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup game at Bumper Hall yesterday.
Johnson latched onto a defence-splitting pass and in his effort to control the ball he lost his right shoe, but he had the presence of mind to squeeze the ball past goalkeeper Ommar Blake at his near post in the 85th minute.
It was a goal that had the home team’s fans in a frenzy as they swarmed onto the field to celebrate what seemed to be the winner.
But St George’s brought an abrupt end to the celebration as substitute Raheem Williams ghosted in at the back post to head in the equalising goal in the 88th minute.
“It’s a very unusual goal. It’s the first I am seeing that in over 30 years in football,” said Philip Williams, head coach of STATHS.
“It was something amazing. He fell, lost his shoe, got up and kicked the ball into the back of the goal; credit to him,” said Marcel Gayle, assistant coach at STGC.
It was the second 1-1 draw between the teams, and it confirmed St George’s College as Group A winners with 23 points with only one match day remaining. The unbeaten St Andrew Technical, who were drawing for the fourth time this season, are second with 16 points. They are two points ahead of Cumberland High who blanked Cedar Grove High 5-0.
Despite dropping two more points and giving Cumberland a glimmer of hope in overhauling them for that second spot, coach Williams remained unperturbed.
“We are never worried about our situation as our fate is in our hands. We need to just go out there and play good football. We are comfortable where we are and not worried about making it to the second round,” said Williams.
“We are disappointed in the manner in which the goal was scored [against us]. Getting a goal so late in the game we should have done better in holding onto that advantage and also the three points. But overall 1-1 is a good reflection of the game, it was quite balanced,” he added.
STGC are yet to beat STATHS from last year, but assistant coach Gayle was happy his team maintained their unbeaten run this season.
“It wasn’t a flowing game today, but a point away against STATHS is good for us and it kept our unbeaten record going forward. Kudos to STATHS as they pushed us to the limit. They got a late goal and we came back and that’s good for us,” Gayle noted.
Meanwhile, defending champions Jamaica College lost their first game of the season, crashing 1-2 to Kingston Technical High School. The Dark Blues remain on top of Group F on 22 points, with Hydel High a close second on 21 points following their 3-0 win over Campion College.
Yesterday’s results
Group A
Papine 1, Tarrant 2
St Andrew Technical 1, St George’s 1
Cedar Grove 0, Cumberland 5
Group B
Ardenne 0, Kingston College 5
Mona 3, Dunoon 1
Calabar vs Clan Carthy — DID NOT PLAY
Group E
St Catherine 4, Penwood 0
Haile Selassie 0, Excelsior 1
St Mary’s College 1, Oberlin 1
Group F
Hydel 3, Campion College 0
Jamaica College 1, Kingston Technical 2
Vauxhall 5, Kingston High 0
Today’s games
Group D
St Jago vs Bridgeport
Greater Portmore vs Innswood
Denham Town vs Tivoli Gardens