KC turn tables on STGC to take Zone A honours in Manning Cup
KINGSTON, Jamaica —Exactly one week after they were beaten 4-2 by St George’s College (STGC) in their ‘home game’ at the Stadium East Field in the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup, Kingston College (KC) returned the favour to their North Street rivals when they won 3-0 at Winchester Park on Saturday.
Goals from their leading scorer Dujuan Richards, Jaheem Johnson and an own goal saw the reigning champions to a comfortable win on their rival’s pitch, as they ended the first round on 27 points with a record of nine wins and one loss from ten games to top the zone.
STGC ended with 24 points from eight wins and two losses from ten games to finish second in the zone.
The match began with KC kicking to the north dominating possession early, but it was STGC who carved out the chances in the opening phase of the game.
Their leading scorer, Brian Burkett, found himself with time and space to shoot from the edge of the area, but his effort, while on target, went straight to Tajarie Lee in the KC goal.
Burkett who had 14 goals from 9 games heading into the match was again involved in the next chance when he crossed to the back post to Adrian Reid Jr, who headed back toward the penalty spot, but it was Joshua Jackson who scored the opener against KC a week earlier who blazed over from 6 yards.
STGC then had a half chance when skipper Joel Brown flighted a ball to Kajahn James at the near post, but he was able to get enough on the header to test Tajarie Lee.
The hosts were now controlling the game, while KC were being sloppy in midfield.
Almost against the run of play, KC took the lead through Richards. A long pass from the middle of the park from Teyshawn Mattis was missed by Michael Pennant and Richards latched onto the ball, cut inside a defender and then fired a grounder to beat D’Jone Davis at his near post with his weaker right foot.
Richards could have added to the KC lead just before half time when he benefited from a Johnson knock down, but he blazed over from 8 yards as KC led 1-0 at the break.
Just as they had done in the first derby, KC came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half.
Jack-in-the-box Johnson was on spot to poke home a cross from Richards just one minute after the restart to give KC a 2-0 lead and then two minutes later he was in the middle of things again to cause mayhem in the STGC box as Davis failed to hold on to a cross from Ashanie Kennedy and the ball squirmed under his body and into the goal.
STGC were unable to mount a response as they had done late in the game last week and there were not to be any late game heroics from Burkett, who was noticeably absent, after starring the show a week ago for his team.
STGC will face Jonathan Grant on Tuesday while KC will face Jose Marti on Wednesday as the second round of the competition gets going.