Defending champions tame Mona, KC still in it
THE CONFIDENCE that Clarendon College (CC) head coach Lenworth Hyde had in his team manifested on the pitch, as his charges looked assured in the first game of their ISSA Champions Cup title defence.
CC defeated Mona High 3-1 in their quarterfinal yesterday at Sabina Park, treating the fans in Kingston to the football which has defined their 2022 daCosta Cup season.
Marques Reid opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Kristoff Graham doubled their advantage in the 31st. Denzel McKenzie reduced the deficit for Mona in the 56th minute before CC captain Malachi Douglas restored their two-goal advantage.
As entertained as the Clarendon College fans were, Hyde said that it was by no means comfortable, as his side had to survive the early pressure that Mona brought in the opening exchanges.
“I wouldn’t say (it was perfect).
We played in patches because of how Mona played. They came with a lot of long balls and pressed us back,” Hyde said.
“But I think that they we’re confident and composed enough to try and nullify their chances. When it came time for us to play, I thought we put the ball down and played and scored three nice goals.”
Defeat for Mona in their Champions Cup debut was not as concerning for head coach Craig Butler as what he saw as a lack of fight.
“For me, a 14 and a 15-year-old had the heart on the pitch today (yesterday). I’m disappointed in my players, tremendously disappointed because they did not play with the heart I know they can,” Butler lamented.
“If you break it down in thirds, we really had the better of play. A mistake from our goalkeeper (Ackeem Bernard) happened around the end of that third and it caused us to panic a little.”
SAME SYSTEM
For Clarendon College, the formula from season’s past continues to yield results in yet another deep schoolboy football run, a better preseason making a big difference.
“It’s just the same system. Most of the players are back from last year. The high level of training and preparation that we put in this season has been (essential) because last year we didn’t have a good preparation period,” Hyde said.
“We had a good one this year and hence why you are seeing us running like that out there. And they understand how I want them to play.”
Clarendon College will now turn their attention to St Andrew Technical High School in the semifinals. STATHS defeated Manchester High 1-0 in a game played at the St Elizabeth Technical High School Sports Complex.
Kingston College, on the other hand, will play Jamaica College in the semi-finals after a comfortable 2-0 win over Central High School.
Kingston College advanced to the semi-finals of the ISSA Champions Cup with a 2-0 win over Central High in their quarterfinal game this evening at Sabina Park.
Ashanie Kennedy opened the scoring in the third minute, while Dujuan Richards (68th) added the second from the bench, his 24th of the season to secure victory.
Jamaica College had beaten The Manning’s School 4-0 over at STETHS.