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St George's FLOW Super Cup title defence over - Excelsior take group honours after tied contest

Published:Wednesday | October 12, 2016 | 12:00 AMShayne Fairman
Patrick Planter
St George’s College’s Alex Marshall (second left) shoots past Excelsior High School goalkeeper Romario Palma and defenders Jevaughn Bryce (right) and Deongelo Campbell (left) to score in the continued ISSA-FLOW Manning Cup football match at Stadium East yesterday. Excelsior won the second-half only contest 1-0, to tie the game 2-2. Excelsior had won the first half of the contest 2-1, which saw an abandonment at half-time when news filtered in that St George’s College’s captain, Dominic James, had died, after collapsing to the turf and being rushed to hospital.

Though lone scorer Alex Marshall netted a stunner, earning St George's College a come-from-behind 2-2 draw, Excelsior High won the day, earning the automatic FLOW Super Cup and Walker Cup knockout positions from the ISSA-FLOW Manning Cup Group A yesterday.

The Mountain View Avenue-based institution prevailed in a spirited 45-minute contest to remain unbeaten in eight games and claiming 20 points.

St George's ended with 19 points and will not be able to defend their ISSA/Super Cup title. They will also miss the Walker Cup KO, where they were finalists last season.

Meeting for the second time this season, the game was called off at half-time on September 20, due to the passing of St George's captain Dominic James, who collapsed inside the first five minutes.

Excelsior were leading 2-1 at the half-time break and the game was continued - with the second-half - at Stadium East yesterday.

Thorne Buchanan's brace in the 30th and 37th minutes gave Excelsior the lead. Buchanan had a hat-trick beckoning, but failed to put away a 42nd-minute penalty, plus other scoring chances yesterday.

 

STGC'S TWO GOALS

 

Akeem Robotham scored St George College's goal in the first half in minute 25, while Marshall added the 'Light Blues' second in the 71st, bringing his goal tally to nine this season.

"It felt good that I could score a good goal like that. I told myself that I wanted to put myself in a good chance to score goals here and help my team win the game and get the Super Cup place, unfortunately we didn't win, but we want to continue playing for everything," Marshall told The Gleaner.

Excelsior's best chance came when Tyane Wilson streaked onside, supplied Buchanan with a peach of a pass, only to see the striker firing wide of goal with only the goalie to beat.

"We knew that they were gonna come and throw everything at us offensively. We tried to contain them," said Shavar Thomas, Excelsior High's coach.

St George's coach Neville 'Bertis' Bell said: "We are disappointed that we didn't make the Super Cup. We came here with an opportunity to win two. We can still win the Manning Cup and we can still win the Olivier Shield."

Meanwhile, Hydel won 1-0 and joined St Jago on 19 points. Superior goal difference placed Hydel second overall to zone winners Bridgeport High, who qualified for the Super Cup.

Surprise team Haile Selassie qualified for the FLOW Super Cup for the first time in their history, topping Group D with a 1-0 win over Jonathan Grant.

 

Yesterday's Results

 

Jonathan Grant 0 H Selassie 1

St Jago High 0 Hydel High 1

Excelsior High 2 St George's 2