St Jago extend perfect run in Manning Cup

SPANISH TOWN-BASED St Jago continued their unbeaten run in this season's ISSA/WATA Manning Cup yesterday with a 2-0 victory over hosts Holy Trinity High in their Zone A contest. It was St Jago's fourth straight win of the campaign.

The winners were led by Marlondo Smith, who netted both goals in the 32nd and 70th minutes to seal the hard-fought win. Smith opened the scoring for St Jago when he fired into the back of the net after Holy Trinity had failed to clear their lines from a corner kick. The speedy but skilful Smith who had an excellent game for his team wrapped up the victory midway the second period with a curling right-footed shot from 18 yards past the Holy Trinity goalkeeper.

Marcello Douglas, assistant coach of St Jago, praised his team's grit and resilience.

"It is a good feeling to win four straight games because the boys went out there and did their best and it was a hard-fought battle. I am happy that we came out victorious and got another clean sheet," Douglas said.

He admitted, however, that the game presented challenges.

"We have been playing well but today was a bit of an off game for us because the Holy Trinity field is a bit shorter than what we are accustomed and in the first half they were playing their game and we were playing into their game. But in the second half we came out and we dominated and in the end we came out the winners," Douglas added.

Douglas believes St Jago's flawless start strengthens their chances of progressing to the second round of the competition.

"Our number one aim is to get out of this group because the likes of St George's College, Excelsior High and Hydel High have been semi-finalists in recent years. St Jago have advanced to the round of 16 but were knocked out at that stage two years straight. Our boys are, however, determined to take it a step further this season," he said.

In the group's other match, Excelsior turned on the style with a 5-1 thrashing of St George's. Kimarly Scott and Damarley Williams scored two goals each for the Mountain View Avenue-based Excelsior while Kivann Salmon added the fifth. Demar Wallace got the consolation goal for St George's.

Yesterday's results

St Jago 2 Holy Trinity 0

Calabar 4 Wolmer's 1

Excelsior 5 St George's 1

STATHS 4 Camperdown 0