Excelsior blank Cumberland

Excelsior High School climbed to second place in Group B, three points behind Charlie Smith, following a 4-0 victory over Cumberland High in a rescheduled ISSA/LIME Manning Cup football match at Courtney Walsh Oval, Excelsior High, yesterday.

Cumberland, already battered and bruised by other teams in their group, except Mona High, showed much resilience to keep the home team from scoring early.

The opening goal came from a 65th-minute penalty, which was hammered firm and high into the visitors? net by captain Christopher Troupe.

Cumberland had their defenders to blame for the second goal, again, as they failed to clear a loose ball, which fell invitingly to Rasheed Anderson, who spanked it into the net on minute 75.

Anderson eventually scored two goals in the match, his second coming at the 87th minute and on the fourth goal. Troupe led from the front once more, with a sizzling run down the flank, from where he supplied the perfect square across Cumberland?s goal. Tereek Anderson then gracefully guided that ball past the goalkeeper and into the net for Excelsior?s fourth, sending the home supporters into frantic celebrations.

Lebert Halliman, coach of Excelsior, welcomed the win, but was less than impressed with the display from his boys.

not at full strength

?Poor game,? he said. ?We were able to score some goals, but we weren?t at our full strength. We had five key players out due to the chikungunya virus. They could have played a better game for us.

?Going forward, we hope to have everybody fit and ready for the Charlie Smith game on Saturday,? he added, noting that they are hoping to beat Charlie Smith at home.

Wayne Fraser, the Cumberland coach, lamented the team?s psyche going into the game.

?My players came here mourning the loss of our principal,? he said of Dahlia Black, who died earlier in the week.

?Our defence let us down in this game. We should have had a better result, but did not because of poor defending,? Fraser added.