In a match showcasing grit and skill, Excelsior narrowly edged out St. Jago with a decisive goal in the 52nd minute, securing a 1-0 victory in a Manning Cup clash. The highly anticipated encounter at the National Stadium saw Excelsior's defence withstand a relentless barrage from St. Jago in the first half, testing the resolve of both teams.

Published Wednesday, September 19, 1962

Spirited St. Jago bow 1-0 in Stadium’s first tilt

Close victory for Excelsior

Gleaner Sports Reporter

EXCELSIOR, one of the teams involved in a unique situation which has four teams as joint favourites, sneaked in a goal in the 52nd minute and staved off a spirited upset bid by St. Jago in yesterday’s Manning Cup fixture, the second of the 1962 season and first schoolboy game to be played at the National Stadium.

On Monday champions Jamaica College, one of the favoured quartet, had a surprising fight from Wolmer’s despite their 4-1 victory. Yesterday, it was Excelsior’s turn to struggle against the underdogs and they had their hands full the entire 70 minutes the game lasted.

St. Jago, set a fast pace which the Excelsior boys matched and consequently, though the game did not produce the constructive soccer expected it was kept alive throughout by the ever-present possibility of St. Jago getting a goal that would run Excelsior of a vital point and give speculations an unexpected and early jolt.

The boys from Spanish Town gave the Excelsior defence a severe testing in the first 30 minutes, staging raid after raid, but the Antrim wall looked as solid as it was reputed to be, for St. Jago never got in a good shot at goal.

Faced with this unexpected pressure, Excelsior made few excursions downfield, but whenever they did, the Jago supporters had anxious moments. One such attack produced the first real excitement of the half Right winger Neville Irvine’s hard shot hit a defender’s hand and referee Freddie Green signalled the penalty spot. Not a sound came from the stands as left winger Patrick Chin moved in for the spot kick. He banged the ball hard but high over the bar and the delightful shrieks from the predominantly female St. Jago cheering section must have been heard miles away.

This was five minutes before the interval and the players went in with the score unchanged.

Excelsior’s forwards gave Jago keeper Derrick Webb a few very hot ones to handle in the first ten minutes of the second half, but undaunted, the losers forced play downfield and soon it was the Excelsior custodian Wakefield who had to bring off the fine saves. Just as they were getting back on top however disaster struck St. Jago. Inside left Abe Bailey, the most dangerous looking of their forwards racing through, collided with the goalie and hurt his ankle and was out for the rest of the match.

Rain which started falling heavily at this stage, added to St. Jago’s worries for Excelsior’s short passing pulled the game back their way and brought the deciding goal. Working the ball nicely upfield. Inside left Arnold Aitken made a speculative push which went unmolested past the unsighted Webb.

The setback only pulled out the best in the Jago boys however, for despite their having only ten men, they regained control in the closing minutes and came within a whisper of getting the equaliser three minutes from the end, but Wakefield brought off two fine saves, one a deflection which put the ball inches outside the upright.

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