Charlie Smith find their way back to a Manning Cup semi-final
Published:Sunday | December 19, 2021 | 12:16 AMRobert Bailey - Sunday Gleaner Writer
CHARLIE SMITH striker Michael Miller netted a double to lead his team to a comfortable 4-1 victory over Kingston Technical High School (KTHS) and a place in the semi-finals of this year’s ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup competition at the Stadium East field yesterday.
Miller scored his goals in the 17th and 80th minutes, while Tyreek Crossman opened the scoring in the 12th and Damar Brown helped close the first half at 3-1 with his effort in the 44th. Jajae Medwinter scored the consolation goal for KTHS in the 53rd minute.
Charlie Smith advanced to the semi-finals after finishing second in Group Two with six points, three behind group winners Kingston College who defeated Excelsior 2-0 in the day’s other game.
Excelsior finished third in the group with three points, while KTHS ended the quarter-finals without a point.
DELIGHTED WITH TEAM’S PERFORMANCE
Charlie Smith coach Eugene Williams said he was delighted with his team’s performance because they played for 90 minutes despite heavy afternoon breeze at the Stadium East field.
“This was a good performance from us because this is what we had asked the boys for at the start of the game and I am very happy that we are now into the semi-finals of the competition,” said Williams.
“Everyone wrote us off at the start of the quarter-finals and so we are just proving them wrong,” he said.
Charlie Smith came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, taking the lead in the 12th minute when Crossman arrived at the near post to head a Miller cross past custodian Kerron Grant.
Miller then doubled his team’s lead four minutes later, netting from the penalty spot after the ball was handled inside the box.
Charlie Smith made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time as Brown fired home, again from penalty spot.
Medwinter would pull one back for KTHS eight minutes into the second stanza but Miller returned to wrap up the game.