Holmwood, Excelsior record big wins in schoolgirls’ football
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Excelsior High and beaten finalists Holmwood Technical recorded big wins yesterday to open the ISSA TIP Friendly Society Schoolgirls’ football season at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
In the day’s opening match, Holmwood Technical blanked Glenmuir High 11-0 before Excelsior High dismissed St Andrew Technical High (STATHS) 5-0.
Holmwood were in control of their game from start to finish and had the goals to prove it. Four goals from Jamara Jones (20th, 39th, 55th, 77th), a hat trick from Rhiannon Powell (17th, 63th, 70th), a brace from McKadya McLean (24th, 52nd) and a lone strike from Alliyeah McAnuff (67th) completed the scoresheet.
Head coach Maurice Duncan said while he is happy for the win, the team committed several mistakes that would need to be corrected as the season continues.
“You always want to win your first game,” he said. “There are a lot of things that I see that I want to work on when we’re playing stronger opponents. It’s a good feeling to win but there were some mistakes that we made that if we were playing another team, it would have cost us.”
In the days feature match, Excelsior saw off a spirited STATHS unit.
While Excelsior controlled the majority of the game and were a constant threat in attack, STATHS proved a nuisance on the counter, not allowing the champions to truly settle in the game.
A hat trick from Ricquanna Richards (10th, 32nd, 70th), Andrene Smith (2nd) and Destiny Powell (36th) paved the way for Excelsior’s victory.
Head coach Xavier Gilbert applauded the win, but felt his team could have been more clinical in front of goal.
“First game so we were a bit rusty but we’re thankful for the win. I didn’t expect us to be smooth sailing and I feel we’re going to get better as the season goes on. We wasted a lot of opportunities in front of goal but again as I said, we’ve not been playing for a while.”
On the other hand, STATHS head coach, Conroy Omally, said despite the scoreline there were positives from his team’s performance.
“I think it was a very good defensive display, maybe the best that I’ve had in a number of years. We’re still in the teething process but to hold this Excelsior team to five-nil is, I think, a good achievement for us,” Omally said.