Excelsior cruise on in schoolgirl football
Destiny Powell scored five times as defending champions Excelsior High slammed Manchester High 12-0 on Tuesday in Group Four of the ISSA/Tip Friendly schoolgirl football quarter-final round, to keep on course for an eighth straight title and their 11th overall.
Riquanna Richards also bagged a hat-trick and Andrene Smith a brace, for the Xavier Gilbert-coached Excelsior, who lead the group on maximum six points and need to avoid defeat against Yallahs High to secure their place in the last four.
Yallahs and Jose Marti High have one point each, and Manchester zero.
However, Yallahs and Manchester have an outstanding game, meaning Yallahs can still get to seven points with a victory over Excelsior in their next match, and Manchester in their rescheduled game.
Gilbert said Powell, who has 13 goals this season, is finding form.
“It was a good performance. We started slow but did what we had to do. We scored a couple of goals and managed the game from there.
“Destiny has managed 13 goals from midfield, and she is coming into her own at the right time, so I am pleased with where we are and what we have achieved so far,” Gilbert said.
Meanwhile, last season’s beaten finalists Holmwood Technical and Frome Technical will have it all to
play for when they meet in the final Group One game next week after both scored their second successive wins on Tuesday.
Frome dismissed Hampton High 7-1 in their game at Frome, while Holmwood turned back Old Harbour High 4-1.
Both teams are now tied on six points, but Frome hold the better goal difference.
In Group Two, Garvey Maceo High climbed to the top with six points after a 5-0 win over Central High. Lacovia High also defeated Green Pond High 5-1 to join Central on three points. Green Pond are still to get off the mark.
Edith Dalton James also recorded their second straight win, beating St, Andrew Technical 2-0 to take sole leadership of Group Three ahead of deCarteret College, who played to a 0-0 draw with Seaforth High.
deCarteret are on four points, Seaforth one and STATHS zero.