Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter

Heroes Circle-based institution drub José Marti

Wolmer's Boys delivered a five-star performance as they continued their impressive march in the 2012 ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup football competition yesterday, registering a 5-0 win over Jose Marti in their Group F encounter at the maroon army's Heroes Circle base.

The 10-time Manning Cup champions, who are in search of their first title since 1994, racked up their fifth consecutive victory on the back of a hat-trick from Kamario Osbourne (7th, 40th and 53rd minutes) to go with goals by Jaheel Hyde (24th) and Jorginho James (70th).

The win saw Wolmer's maintain their lead as they progressed to 15 points. They are followed by Donald Quarrie (12), Jose Marti (seven), Kingston Technical (five) and Oberlin (two).

Wolmer's came into this year's competition as the favourites and their opening-round display has further enhanced this belief, as they have scored 33 goals while conceding one.

"I am trying my very best to ensure that Wolmer's take home the title this year with the resources that we have available to us," their coach Ludlow Bernard said.

"We have to remain focused on our task at hand because it is not going to get any easier from here. Most teams looking on will be planning for us and we have to be very much aware of that," he added.

Jose Marti were outplayed from the opening whistle and went behind as early as the seventh minute when Osbourne pounced on a loose ball in the area, to score under pressure from keeper Bryan Mighten.

Wolmer's sought to maintain possession before striking again in the 24th minute when Hyde easily beat Mighten at his near post. Osbourne netted his second in the 40th when he latched on to a left-sided cross from Hyde.

Three-timer

Wolmer's started the second half as they ended the first, when Osbourne completed his three-timer by hooking in another square by Hyde.

The rout was complete in the 70th minute when James headed in a Tazeo Gilpin free kick.

Despite the heavy defeat, Jose Marti's coach, Calvert Fitzgerald, remains optimistic about his team's chances of progressing to the next round.

"Wolmer's is beating everybody in the zone, so we losing to Wolmer's is not really a setback for us; it is just that we would have liked to have beaten them," Fitzgerald said.

"The result against Wolmer's doesn't significantly affect our chances to advance to the second round," he added.

ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com

Yesterday's results

Group F

Wolmer's 5 José Marti 0

Group G

Charlie Smith 2 STATHS 1