Goal flurry gives Central High slim Zone M lead

ZONE M in the ISSA daCosta Cup is beginning to heat up even more as Central High leapt to the top of the group following a comfortable 5-0 win over cellar team Tacius Golding High at Port Esquivel yesterday.

The three points now see Central High on 12 points from five games, which is three points ahead of second-place Glenmuir High, who have played just three games so far. Old Harbour High is in third place, also on nine points, but from five games.

It was a workmanlike performance from the Jermain Douglas-coached Central team, who seized the early initiative from a battered and bruised Tacious Golding side. Up to that point, Tacius Golding had already conceded 20 goals from five games.

It took just 10 minutes for the opening goal as James Dyer acrobatically finished off a volley inside the area, following a right-sided cross from Stephen Hamilton.

Central had to wait until the 34th minute to double their lead, though. Central mid-fielder Shane Gordon found himself unchallenged inside the Tacius Golding area and rifled home a right-footed shot past Javorn Laing in goal.

The second half provided much of the same, with Central camping out in the Tacius Golding half, and a third goal was imminent. That third stroke in the goal column came when captain Dylan Clarke converted a penalty after winger Javaughn Campbell was brought down inside the area.

Despite the comfortable lead, Douglas urged his players to press for more goals, and they did just that when substitute Javel Barnes tapped in from close range in the 89th minute. But they weren’t done, even at that late stage, with defender Anrick Gordon heading home a Shane Gordon corner in time added on to punctuate the victory.

Douglas commended his boys for executing their plan.

“Our objective is to get 18 points from this group, which will allow us to qualify for the next round. We wanted as many goals as possible because this group is a tight group, with Glenmuir and Old Harbour breathing down our necks,” he said.

Losing coach Marlon Nesbeth said his team continues to gain valuable experience, which will serve his young players well.

“We are a very young team and we are coming into the competition to get experience so next year we will be coming back way better.”