Late goal sends KC into Manning Cup semifinals

Kingston College (KC) pulled off a Houdini-like act to book their place into the semifinals of the ISSA Manning Cup competition after scoring a stoppage-time goal which was good enough to see them through to the final four, despite losing 2-1 to St Catherine High in their exciting Group One quarterfinal encounter at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

The North Street-based school, who came into the encounter with four points and needing just a draw to advance, found themselves behind the eight ball within the first 30 minutes of the game, as right back Kamaul Patterson received two yellow cards in five minutes and was sent off.

St Catherine immediately sought to make the man advantage count as they pressed the readjusted KC backline and they got the go-ahead goal in the 37th minute when winger Jacque Watson tucked home a left-sided cross to send the mainly St Catherine High supporters in the Spanish Town Prison Oval into wild celebrations.

St Catherine, who knew that they needed to beat KC by two clear goals to give themselves a chance of advancing, came out with the same intense purpose in the second half and won themselves a penalty in the 67th minute after KC’s Kimani Reece fouled Kadean Young in the box. Watson then stepped up to score his second of the match.

Needing a goal to keep their semifinal hopes alive, KC coach Vassell Reynolds made some changes and urged his 10-man team forward. They got their reward when attacking midfielder Alex Hislop dribbled down the left side and cut inside the box to fire home a right-footed shot past a dejected Omarion Brown in goal.

That late goal silenced the vociferous home fans as KC held off a surge by St Catherine. The Spanish Town-based school’s 2-1 win saw KC advancing on goal difference as both schools ended on four points. KC ended with a zero goal difference and St Catherine, minus one.

“It was a great escape for us after going down to ten men so early and we were behind the eight ball and always chasing. For me, the halftime came at the right time and we got the boys together and the KC never-say-die attitude came out and we got the goal which made it happen for us,” coach Reynolds said.

A dejected St Catherine coach Anthony Patrick could not hold back the disappointment as his team came so close to getting the job done.

“I thought my boys gave it their all but we gave up a goal in extra time and that allowed KC to get the result they needed to advance,” Patrick said.