Record-breakers JC lift under-16 title
Published:Tuesday | December 12, 2023 | 12:11 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
After scoring a record breaking 69 goals during the 2023 ISSA/Burger King under-16 football season, Jamaica College (JC) were crowned champions yesterday following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Wolmer’s Boys in the final at the Stadium East field.
Title winning coach Raymond Watson said the overall performance of the boys was nothing short of spectacular.
“I thought we dominated yesterday’s game and based on possession we should have won by a larger margin. This season we were brilliant as this team scored 69 goals which is now a record surpassing Kingston College’s 54,” he stated.
Courtney Dowdie, assistant coach of Wolmer’s Boys, stated that despite the defeat his boys played fairly well.
“I’m not disappointed in my team because I think we took charge of the first half and if I took of our chances we could’ve been three goals up,” he said.
Wolmer’s had the game’s best opening opportunity through Kishawn Lewis in the 13th minute but the JC defensive line managed to clear their lines. JC took some time to settle came close in the 15th minute courtesy of a Giovanni Taylor free kick which was comfortably handled by Wolmer’s custodian Yuri Dryden. Taylor went closer in the 19th minute with another free kick but this time his effort went inches wide of the goal. As both teams traded chances, Wolmer’s were awarded a penalty in the 21th minute but Damar Smith was denied by a spectacular save from Adriano Kitson.
The deadlock was eventually broken early in the second half as JC’s Zinodean McLean calmly guided his header in the back of the Wolmer’s net. That lead was doubled seven minutes later as the silky smooth Jamone Lyle did the bulk of the damage and passed to Giovanni Taylor who scored.
Wolmer’s replied almost immediately through Daniel Scarlett but his goal only proved to be a consolation effort.
In the day’s earlier encounter, Wolmer’s were crowned under-14 champions following a 1-0 victory over Excelsior High courtesy of a powerful free kick taken by Ramesh Simms.