Essex Valley win big

By Tony Becca, Senior Sport Editor

OSLO

THE Essex Valley All Stars opened their bid for honours in the Under 14 section of the 2001 Norway Cup with a flood of goals against Baekkelagets SK 2 at Ekeberg yesterday morning.

In a dazzling performance that drew rounds and rounds of applause from their army of admirers, the All Stars drubbed one of the scores of home teams in the world's biggest age group tournament 9-0 with Codray Martin of Lacovia scoring four times, Jerome Morrison of Munro and Jermaine West of B.B. Coke twice, and Andre Anderson of Munro once.

Martin, operating from the right wing and cutting in towards goal time and time again, scored the first two, Morrison the second and third, Anderson the fifth, and West the sixth as the youngsters from St. Elizabeth totally dominated the first half of the 40-minute match.

In the second half, it was again all Essex Valley, and the only reason why they did not pump in six or so goals was the eagerness to score by all except the back four and goalkeeper Melvin Weller who, but for two long ranged shots by Baekkelagets SK 2, one in each half, had nothing to do.

After missing a number of opportunities to increase their tally in the first 14 minutes of the half, the "little Reggae Boys" finished in style with Martin, off for the first 10 minutes, scoring number seven, West number eight, and Martin number nine.

According to the rules of the Under 14 section, there is no limit to the number of substitutions and a player can return after being substituted.

"This is a great start," said head coach Andrew Bent afterwards. "They all played well, and this is good for their confidence."

Although the clumsy-looking Baekkelagets SK 2 were no match for the fast, skilful Jamaicans whose cheering fans included Rain Forest of Brazil, Essex Valley really looked good, and none more than the diminutive Anderson and Enrico Smith who thrilled the gathering with delicate skills highlighted by pin-point passes which split the defence and sent Martin and Morrison away repeatedly.

The All Stars go for victory number two this afternoon when they take on Skiold SKB-Buskerud.

In the Under 16 section, Rain Forest of Brazil scored twice in the second half of their 50-minute match to defeat Nordstrand IF 1.

After falling behind in the first half, Rain Forest, cheered by Essex Valley, hit back through Joao Paulo Trinade, who scored from the penalty spot and Jorge Costa, who ran onto a long pass from Dorivaldo Filho, fought off two defenders, turned inside and fired a low left-footer home.

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