Mona end Manning Cup group stage in style
Published:Saturday | October 22, 2022 | 12:09 AMDaniel Wheeler/Gleaner Writer
A four-goal performance by Mona High midfielder Robino Gordon was the highlight of yesterday’s ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup match at Mona High playing field as the unbeaten Group E leaders ended the group stage in style by thrashing Hydel High 8-0.
Gordon exploded in the second half with his goals coming within 10 minutes (77th, 82nd, 84th and 87th minutes) while a first half brace from Donhue Mitchell in the first and 21st minutes and tallies from Denzel McKenzie (45th minute) and Dante Peralto (50th) saw Mona complete the group stage with a perfect record.
Mona High head coach Craig Butler praised Gordon’s performance but also his versatility having played multiple positions since his under-16 days, adopting Butler’s ethos and commitment to the total football style of play.
“It’s important to note that in Colts last year he played centre forward, he played centre half for us and attacking midfield much of the game and much of the season,” Butler noted. “ All our players are able to play in every position. I’m proud of him. His dad was here and he wanted to make his dad proud and I am happy that he accomplished that.”
What Butler is also pleased with is the way his team has performed over the 10 games, which has not only seen the players’ commitment to the philosophy he has instilled but also being able to take one step towards the long-term vision of development of players and bringing pride to a school that hasn’t seen Manning Cup success in years.
“We are peaking at the right time and we are showing that we can play total football. We are very proud of the team and the staff. I’m happy if we are able to bring home a trophy for a school that nobody believed in,” Butler said. This school can stop being a feeding ground for all the other schools. It is really a welcome change to see Mona reach this far.”
It will be a long wait for Hydel coach Devon Anderson who hopes to still be in one of the four best third-place teams when the final round of games conclude this afternoon. Hydel are currently on 14 points. While they lost by two goals in their first meeting weeks ago, Anderson said they were nowhere near their best this time around.
“We didn’t turn up today. Congrats to Mona. They came and put away the game. We failed to score from the few chances that we got and goals win matches,” Anderson said.
Hydel have been under the spotlight recently with the school accused of fielding ineligible players, something that Anderson said has affected the players.
“There has been a lot of negativity out in the air and it got to the players. They hear what is going on but nevertheless we have no excuses,” Anderson said.
Yesterday’s results
STATHS 6 Tarrant 0
Jonathan Grant 1 Norman Manley 1
Spanish Town 1 Dunoon 0
Wolmer’s 4 Kingston High 1
Mona 8 Hydel 0
Camperdown 2 Papine 1
Today’s games
Jamaica College vs St Catherine High
St Jago vs St Mary’s College
Holy Trinity vs Cedar Grove
St George’s College vs Kingston College
Ardenne vs Waterford
Meadowbrook vs Calabar