Campion a point away from breaking 30-year hoodoo

CAMPION COLLEGE are a step closer to qualifying for the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup second round for the first time in nearly 30 years after defeating Cumberland High School 4-0 at Campion College yesterday.

Goals from Kai Myles, Djaz Less, Bryan Mayhew, and Shandon McFarlane carried Campion to their fourth win from eight matches. They have also remained unbeaten.

Assistant coach Ashton Blankson said it was a competent performance and a good result for his team.

“We are just taking it game by game. We are happy for this win. We are second in the group, and we should stay second, but we are glad for another solid performance from the players,” he said

The win put Campion on 19 points, four behind Group E leaders Excelsior, who had a 2-0 win over Clan Carthy. Campion just need one point to secure a second-round berth when they face Kingston Technical (KT) on Saturday.

Blankson insists they will not be getting ahead of themselves.

“We are taking it one game at a time. We play KT in our next game, and we expect another solid performance.”

The game was barely a minute old when a Cumberland defender was called for a hand ball inside the area, and Myles put away the spot kick for the opening goal.

The hosts continued to dominate, and in the 18th minute, Less added a second. Mayhew would add a third in the 28th through an excellent solo effort, going by three Cumberland defenders in a dribble that spanned the opposition half.

After the break, Cumberland showed some resilience and even had a shot that hit the bar. But six minutes after the interval, McFarlane turned home a low cross from six yards to seal the win for the home team.

Cumberland coach Glenford Whyte said he had numerous injuries that depleted his squad. However, Whyte noted that Jonathan Whyte, who suffered a head collision with Campion’s Brandon Mohammed and had to be taken to hospital, was recovering well and would be all right.

“He is conscious, but because it is a head injury, they are not taking any chances. I spoke with him, and they are just observing him to make sure he is okay. So he should be okay,” he commented.

In the group’s other game, Kingston Technical turned back José Martí 1-0 to leapfrog that opponent into third with 14 points. José Martí slipped to fourth with 11 points. They are followed by Cumberland on four and Clan Carthy at the bottom with three.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Yesterday’s Results

Kingston Technical 1-0 José Martí

Excelsior 2-0 Clan Carthy

Campion College 4-0 Cumberland

Today’s matches

Norman Manley v Dunoon at Maxfield Park

STATHS v Spanish Town at STATHS

Tarrant v Jonathan Grant at Tarrant

All matches start at 3 p.m.