C'down's Bender expects title bid

Christopher Bender, coach of Camperdown High, believes he has found a Manning Cup team that can end the school's 30-year trophy drought in schoolboy football.

Bender made his comments after his side dropped points for the first time this season when they were held to a goalless draw by Charlie Smith High in the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup football competition at the Alpha Boys home field yesterday.

"The long-suffering Camperdown people need a trophy," Bender told The Sunday Gleaner. "The last time we won a trophy was in 1988 when we won the Walker Cup, and 1982, when I was playing we won the Manning Cup."

Bender's boys have won four of the five matches they have contested this season and now sit comfortably on top of the group with 13 points. They are now five points clear of Charlie Smith, who are in second on eight points.

TOUGHEST OPPOSITION

"I think we have the team to break the curse. Today, we played the team which we expect the toughest opposition from. I thought we played well enough to have won the game. In both halves, we got chances that we should have used up to come out on top, but we are happy that we are still five points ahead of them," Bender said.

Camperdown are also among the six schools who have not conceded more than one goal in the competition thus far. Kingston College have kept all clean sheets.

Charlie Smith's coach, Eugene Williams, was pleased with his team's effort but believes that they need to shift into another gear to secure their spot into the next round. "It was a hard-fought game, and I am happy with how my guys played. Both teams got chances, but we got a point away from home, so we are grateful for that," Williams said. "We are up against Eltham (High School) on Tuesday at home, and both of us are fighting for the second spot now, so it will be a great opportunity for us to separate ourselves from them."

Yesterday's results

Camperdown 0 Charlie Smith 0

Holy Trinity 4 Jose Marti 0

Pembroke Hall 1 Wolmer's 1

Norman Manley 1 Meadowbrook 3