JC make dominant start to title-chasing season

FORMER CHAMPIONS Jamaica College (JC) began their quest to lift the ISSA/WATA Manning Cup title with an effortless 7-0 victory over St Mary’s College at the Ashenheim Stadium yesterday.

JC were led to victory, courtesy of a hat-trick from Dwayne Burger, as JC went into the break leading 2-0. He received good support from Jabari Howell, who netted a brace, while there was one goal each from Dujoni Thompson and Davante Allen.

JC, who last won the title in 2022, reached the quarter-finals of last year’s competition. However, the Old Hope Road-based team, who won five straight Manning Cup titles from 2013-2017, are harbouring strong ambitions of lifting the crown this season.

Raymond ‘Stampy’ Watson, one of JC’s coaches, said he was very pleased with securing the three points.

“I think it was a fairly decent performance from us, but I thought we could have done a lot better, especially in the final third, because we were very wasteful in front of goal,” said Watson.

“However, we started a bit nervous, but I think this is a good way to get the first game out of the way. I think that, if we played earlier in the week, we would have been a bit more relaxed. But we scored five goals in the second half, so I am pleased about that,” he said.

Watson added that he is not putting too much pressure on his players this season because they are a very young team, and therefore he was happy with the way they carried themselves throughout the match.

“We had a very low-key preseason because, if you notice, we weren’t seen around town doing anything, and we are also in a rebuilding mode. So we have to give God thanks and congratulate the boys on this performance.”

Meanwhile, defending champions Kingston College (KC) recorded their second straight victory of the season with an 8-1 thrashing of minnows Kingston Technical. KC were led to victory by a hat-trick from Otavian Halloway, while Dashawn Byfield and Shareef Ricketts were also on the scoresheet with two goals each.

KC’s head coach, Vassell Reynolds, was pleased with his team’s efforts, despite what he described as poor conditions at the Kingston Technical home field.

“I am pretty satisfied with the performance, because the aim from this early in the season is to improve as we go along and we saw some improvements, albeit it was a rough pitch to play on,” Reynolds said.

“But the boys showed individual improvements, though they were wasteful in front of goal, but we will accept the performance that they put out.”

Yesterday’s results

Vauxhall 2-1 Camperdown

STATHS 7-2 Edith Dalton James

KC 8-1 Kingston Tech

JC 7-0 St Mary’s College