Defending champions rebound against dangerous Calabar

Defending champions Excelsior High School secured an important 2-1 victory over Group B rivals Calabar in their ISSA Manning Cup second-round clash at Red Hills Road yesterday.

Habbie Mohammed gave Excelsior the lead in the 25th minute, but Daniell Dawkins brought the hosts level with a strike nine minutes later.

However, Excelsior claimed all three points when Rojawn Small capitalised on a goalkeeping error in the second half to score from close range.

Excelsior coach Keon Broderick said that following their disappointing Walker Cup exit to Kingston College on Saturday, the team’s objective was to bounce back immediately.

“Coming into the game after that disappointing result on Saturday, the objective was to bounce back from that. The field conditions made it difficult to play our type of football. So we had to adapt to the field, and they (players) did so really well,” he said.

Broderick added that his team deserved the victory despite benefitting from the error that led to the winning goal.

“Important three points. I think Calabar are one of the best teams in this group. We expected a tough game, and they gave us a tough game, but we created enough chances to score even more goals. Yes, we capitalised on a goalkeeping error, but it’s the nature of the game.”

After a lively start from both teams, it was the visitors who settled first and took the lead through Mohammed’s effort midway through the opening half.

Calabar remained competitive and showed their resilience, equalising through Dawkins in the 34th minute.

Six minutes after the restart, Excelsior’s Damarley Williams thought he had headed home from a free kick, but the effort was ruled offside.

Moments later, Williams unleashed a powerful shot following a lengthy run, which Josh-Rushaun Blair parried into the path of Nickwayne Patrick, whose tame follow-up effort was also saved.

Excelsior eventually grabbed the decisive goal in the 73rd minute after a costly error by Blair, with Small on hand to convert from close range.

Calabar assistant coach Linval Wilson said it was difficult to lose in such circumstances but stressed that his team must move forward.

“I think we did well in the latter part of the game. The last 15 minutes we went at them. It’s unfortunate that we gave up a soft goal. But we will get better from here. It (second goal) was very disappointing. We were competing against the defending champions, but we have to move on from this,” he said.

Calabar are third in the group with three points from two matches, level with second-placed Charlie Smith.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Yesterday’s Results

KC 9-0 Edith Dalton-James

JC 0-0 Campion

Mona 5-2 Bridgeport

Calabar 1-2 Excelsior