Dominant William Knibb hungry for bigger challenges

Western Bureau:

William Knibb coach Dwight Jeremiah, while eyeing a perfect run in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) daCosta Cup first round after his team’s 5-0 demolition job on Maldon High School at home yesterday, is finding it difficult to keep his team focused with ‘easy’ teams as part of the early diet.

“The results are pleasing, sometimes the performance is not up to par. Today we know it wasn’t going to be a test of tactical awareness and technical ability. It was whether the guys would be able to mentally lift themselves to play a team that is at the bottom of the table and yet to score a goal.

Jeremiah was speaking after his team continued its dominance of Zone A, but had to lift themselves to produce the goods.

Kernell Peart opened the scoring just six minutes into the contest only to see the intensity fall with William Knibb appearing content with maintaining possession. The half would end at 1-0.

Three substitutions after the break paid off for the hosts as they began creating chances again, scoring three goals in six minutes through Keven Clarke (59th), Onardo Dixon (61st) and Olivere Brown (65th). Mark Lewis put the icing on the cake in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

BETTER SECOND HALF

“The first half started and then we faded. So that was disappointing. The good thing is that we injected some subs at half-time who were hungry, as some didn’t play from season. The tempo picked up second half ... The good thing is that, come the next round, we won’t have teams like today,” he said.

In the second game of the William Knibb double-header, Herbert Morrison Technical High ground out a 2-1 victory over Holland High.

Winning coach Garfield Anderson is happy they managed to maintain second place in the standings.

Holland, who started the game sprightly enough, took the lead through Jahiem Sankar in the 14th minute. However, the pre-game favourites woke up, responding four minutes later with Camarco Brown netting the equaliser.

“Today was a tough game. Holland came out with a lot of purpose and intent. We were a bit lethargic but it’s good when you can persevere through adversity and still get the desired result,” Anderson said.

“I think we have done well so far. Many didn’t give us a chance to be where we are today. We will continue to work hard to achieve our objective of getting out of the zone,” he added.

Yesterday’s results

Ocho Rios 3 York Castle 0

Spot Valley 0 Cornwall College 2

Munro College 1 B.B. Coke 0

STETHS 4 Mt. St Joseph 0

Claude McKay 1 Denbigh 5

DeCarteret College 0 Holmwood 4

Dinthill 3 Charlemont 0

Irwin 3 St James 0

Holland 1 Herbert Morrison 2

Lacovia 2 Maggotty 2

Glenmuir 1 Clarendon College 0

Lennon 0 Edwin Allen 0

Paul Bogle 1 Seaforth 1

Happy Grove 6 Port Antonio 2