Final four and still perfect
KC continue to look the part after stroll against Excelsior
Published:Sunday | December 19, 2021 | 12:16 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
THREE GAMES, three wins and an ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup semi-final secured for Kingston College.
For assistant coach Raymond Watson, it was the perfect way to enter the Christmas break with the target of another Manning Cup title after dispatching Excelsior 2-0 in their final quarter-final group Two game at Ashenheim Stadium yesterday
First-half strikes from Ronardo Burgher and Jerome Barclay in the 13th and 15 minutes, respectively, ensured KC finished the quarter-final stage unbeaten and atop the group with nine points.
KC have yet to concede a goal in the quarter-final stage, a marker Watson said was important for them to maintain despite entering the final group game virtually through to the semi-finals.
“We have conceded one goal all season and that was the aim again, not to concede any goals today [yesterday],” Watson said.
The goals came in the space of a two-minute span when Burgher managed to fire his shot into the bottom corner 13 minutes into the game and Barclay managed to weave his way past the defence and calmly finish past Excelsior goalkeeper Michael Clarke.
Entering the final game tied with Charlie Smith on three points but in second place because of a superior goal difference, Excelsior still had control over their own destiny, needing to win to progress.
NO GOAL
While Excelsior had moments in KC final third, they could not muster any clear-cut chances on goal, with the majority of shots coming from long range.
The closest they would come to scoring was when they hit the crossbar in the 75th minute.
Having been the beneficiary of a quarter-final berth because of Camperdown High and Tivoli High’s expulsion, Excelsior’s Manning Cup journey would end after Charlie Smith trounced Kingston Technical 4-1 at Stadium East, sending them in the last four despite losing their opening game.
Head coach Xavier Gilbert, while crediting how competitive they remained after conceded, said his team did not make good decisions in the final third when they had their chances.
“Part of the plan was to allow them to “play out first and trap them. We got three opportunities late in the first half and we didn’t make the right decisions up top and hence it didn’t look as clear cut. It didn’t work at the start, but I must commend the players. We made the necessary adjustments and we were very competitive after the first 25 minutes,” Gilbert said.
He lamented Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Charlie Smith, which he said ultimately cost them their shot at the semi-finals.
“That’s a game we had to win but we threw it away. It is something that has been plaguing us throughout the season, making turnovers in the defensive third and conceding goals,” Gilbert said.
For many-time champions Kingston College, Watson said while they are close to where they want to be performance wise, he aims to use the break to sharpen up their weak areas, to ensure they have the fortitude to capture the prize come next month.
“We are getting there, but we still have some work to do. I hope during this holiday period we can get together and fix things the way we would love to have it,” Watson said.