St Jago’s Manning Cup campaign stays perfect

HIGH-FLYING ST Jago continued their perfect run in this season’s ISSA/WATA Manning Cup with a 2-0 victory over hosts Holy Trinity in their Zone A contest yesterday, securing their fourth straight win of the campaign.

The Spanish Town-based side was led by Marlondo Smith, who netted both goals in the 32nd and 70th minutes to seal the hard-fought win.

Smith opened the scoring for St Jago when he fired home after Holy Trinity failed to clear their lines from a corner kick.

The speedy but skillful Smith, who had an excellent game, wrapped up the victory for his team midway the second period with a curling right-footed shot from 18 yards.

In the group’s other match, Excelsior turned on the style with a 5-1 thrashing of St George’s College. Kimarly Scott and Damarley Williams each scored twice for the Mountain View Avenue school, while Kivann Salmon added the fifth. Demar Wallace got the consolation for St George’s.

Marcello Douglas, assistant coach of St Jago, praised his team’s grit and resilience.

“It is a good feeling to win four straight games because the boys went out there and did their best as it was a hard-fought battle. I am happy that we came out victorious because we got another clean sheet, and we also got the three points,” Douglas said.

He admitted, however, that the game presented challenges.

“We have been playing well, but today was a bit of an off game for us because the Holy Trinity field is a bit shorter than what we are accustomed, and in the first half they were playing their game, and we were playing into their game. But in the second half, we came out and we dominated, and in the end, we came out the winners.”

Douglas believes St Jago’s flawless start strengthens their chances of progressing to the second round of the competition.

“Our number-one aim is to get out of this group because the likes of St George’s, Excelsior, and Hydel have been semi-finalists before when compared to St Jago, who have been to the round of 16 and been knocked out two years straight. Our boys are determined to take it a step further this season,” he said.

Yesterday’s results

St Jago 2-0 Holy Trinity

Calabar 4-1 Wolmer’s

Excelsior 5-1 St George’s College

STATHS 4-0 Camperdown