Manchester High playing to strengths

Western Bureau:

Manchester High School head coach Vassell Reynolds says their tactic of using big, physical players in the midfield, as opposed to Cornwall College’s (CC) technically sound, smaller players, paid off on Saturday. Manchester defeated the St James-based club 1-0 in their ISSA/WATA daCosta Cup quarterfinal group stage game at the STETHS Sports Complex with Dane Golding, one of the three six-footers in the midfield, scoring in the 89th minute of the game. The win saw the boys in brown and gold take the lead the ‘group of death’ with four points, one ahead of CC and Garvey Maceo, who are locked on points for second. Maggotty sit at the bottom with only one point.

“We did some scouting, and we figured that they were good, technically, on the ball, so we wanted to be a bit more aggressive in the midfield,” Reynolds said. “We figured that is where we would win the game, if any at all. I thought the big boys stood up well in the midfield, and I must applaud them.”

Reynolds said the approach for the game was that of a cup final.

Working tirelessly

“It (win) means a lot as we have been working tirelessly,” he said. “Yes, we drew that first game, the one that we anticipated that we wanted three points from. I thought the Maggotty team was very disciplined and we just couldn’t break them down.

“However, we recuperated and came in with all that we had for today’s game because I figured that this was a final. I thought the guys gave it their best, and I’m really proud of them.”

Reynolds, who is now focused on getting a win when they host Garvey Maceo tomorrow, said, that they are mindful of not getting carried away.

“ [It will be] another tough one, we are not going to get carried away,” he said. “We realise that it’s not over as yet. We have another final before the finals. We really have to recover well, refocus, and prepare ourselves adequately. And, hopefully, we can come out with the desired result on Tuesday.”