Patrick praises St Catherine for ugly win

ROMAINE WALTERS scored the game’s only goal as St Catherine turned back St Jago 1-0 in their ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup Spanish Town derby at Prison Oval yesterday.

Walters headed home from a set-piece in the 37th minute, in a game of very few chances.

St Catherine’s coach Anthony Patrick admitted it wasn’t a good match from his team and praised his defence for the three points.

“It wasn’t a pretty one but we got three points and that’s what is important. We have some niggling injuries with senior players, who took the field but their sharpness wasn’t there. So I had to make three quick changes for them.

“The defensive unit played well and that played its part, as our centre-back also got the goal for us today,” he said.

St Catherine now lead the standings on seven points from three matches, followed by St Jago on six and Jamaica College, who play today, on four points.

Patrick is pleased to assume the leadership of the group.

“It was very important to go on top of the table. I know JC will win their game. So we will be on top with JC and we will take it from there.

“We just have to move forward and get the three senior players back up as quickly as possible,” he added.

St Jago had the early ascendency in the game but St Catherine gradually grew into the match and got the all-important goal seven minutes before the break.

After the interval, St Jago pushed their opponents all the way but only had two good openings which they failed to capitalise on.

St Catherine also had a few good breaks but goalkeeper Shamore Dawkins and Guyanese defender Brandon Solomon kept them at bay.

St Jago coach Garnet Lawrence said inexperience, nerves and injuries got the better of his team on the day.

“Inexperience got the better of us. We played with a lot of young kids and you could see nerves got the better of them.

“Second half we tried to play a little bit more but the goal just wouldn’t come. We also had some unneccesary injuries that forced us to reshuffle the team,” he said.

Still, Lawrence is looking to rebound when they play Holy Trinity on Saturday.

“It is not a setback. We got a good start. We just have to pick up where we left off. These guys are raring to go again and we are very confident of rebounding,” he said.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Yesterday’s results

Mona 9 - Camperdown 0

Jose Marti 1 - Kingston tech. 0

Charlie Smith 3 - Edith 1

Hydel 7 - Kingston high 1

Campion 2 - Cumberland 1

Haile Selassie 3 - Tivoli 1

Wolmer’s 2 - Papine 0

Excelsior 2 - Clan Carthy 1

Tarrant 0 - Dunoon 2

Vauxhall 2 - Bridgeport 2

Today's Games

Calabar v Ardenne at Calabar

KC v Meadowbrook at Stadium East

Waterford v St George’s at Waterford

St Mary’s College v Cedar Grove at St Mary’s coll.

Holy Trinity v JC at Bell/Chung stadium

Spanish Town v Norman Manley at Prison Oval

STATHS v Jonathon Grant at STATHS