Much-changed JC ease to 3-1 win

Despite seven changes to the Jamaica College (JC) starting 11 that defeated St Andrew Technical in their last ISSA Manning Cup quarter-final round game, JC still eased past St Catherine High 3-1 in their final Group One match at Stadium East yesterday.

Tarick Ximinies, with a goal and an assist seven minutes apart, led the defending champions to a comfortable win over their opponents.

Ximinies opened the scoring after 52 minutes. Alex Hislop scored the second in the 59th minute before Jaheem Fraser made it 3-0 on 78 minutes. Nickyle Ellis netted St Catherine’s only goal from the penalty spot, two minutes from time.

The result means JC finished top of Group One with maximum nine points. They are joined in the last four by second-place St Andrew Technical (four points) who drew 1-1 with Mona to advance on a better goal difference.

Mona and St Catherine will now contest the Walker Cup semi-finals against the third- and fourth-place finishers from Group Two.

JC coach Davian Ferguson said despite making numerous changes, he wanted to finish on a good note.

FINISH ON A GOOD NOTE

“Last game of the quarter-final and we wanted to finish on a positive. We found ourselves in a very strong position and we rotated players who haven’t got a lot of minutes.

“So we gave an opportunity to the youngsters. Most are young and new and fighting to displace the regular starters. It was an opportunity, some grabbed it and some didn’t,” he said.

“We changed seven players from the starting team from the last game but we really wanted to come out and be professional and do our jobs because we did not want to send the wrong message or bring the integrity of the competition into question,” he added.

St Catherine lost all three quarter-final games but coach Anthony Patrick said it was their most encouraging performance of the round.

“This is the best game we played in the quarter-final. The first two games we got nothing. They are youngsters and there are no senior players to rely on. But we are in the semi-finals of the Walker Cup, and we want to see if we can take that one. That (performance) looks good for us going into the Walker Cup semi-finals next year,” he stated

After a lethargic first half, JC took the lead after 52 minutes when Ximinies fired home from the edge of the area. Minutes later the Harbour View full-back’s low cross found Hislop, who slotted home from close range.

In the 78th minute, Fraser fired a low shot into the far corner to give JC a 3-0 lead. However, two minutes from time, St Catherine were awarded a penalty and Ellis converted the consolation goal.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com