Near perfect

CLARENDON COLLEGE ended their 2023 Schoolboy football season in commanding fashion, retaining their Olivier Shield title with the 4-0 defeat of Manning Cup winners Mona High School at the National Stadium last night.

The Chapelton-based institution got goals through player-of-the-season Kaheim Dixon in the 35th minute of play, a Christopher Hull brace, accomplished in the 50th and 87th, and Deandre Gallimore in the 69th.

Mona made their intentions known in the opening minute of the fixture, coming close through a Denzel Mckenzie strike, which sailed above the bar.

However, Clarendon College, unbothered by their opponents’ intent, slowly grew into the game.

It took them 30 minutes to really test the Mona goal, with Dixon’s powerful right-footed shot going just over the bar.

Five minutes later, the standout player was on the scoresheet, registering his 32nd goal of the season when from a corner, he found himself unmarked at the far post with the simple task of heading into an empty net.

In the second half, Clarendon College turned on the big engines, and in the 50th minute, Hull’s left-footed strike had to be carefully watched by Mona custodian Ackeem Bernard.

Dixon also got in on the action, using superb trickery to jimmy the locks of several markers before his deflected shot went just wide.

In the 61st minute, Mona got a glimpse of the Clarendon College goal through Romarion Thomas, but he was denied by a brilliant save from goalkeeper Roshae Burrell.

On the back of sustained pressure, the lead would double, with Gallimore’s half-turn ending in a well-placed shot between a defender’s legs and into the far post.

Gallimore’s 69th-minute effort took the sting out of the game though Mona didn’t look to have quit on the assignment.

The lull meant there would be no more scoring until the game, beginning to draw to a close, revved back into life when Hull outjumped a backpedalling Bernard to nod a cross into an empty net.

Eager for another, Hull popped up again in the box in the 87th minute, with Mona defenders scrambling to clear their lines. He hammered a well-executed scissors kick that deflected off the hands of a diving Bernard to trickle over the line.

Lenworth Hyde, head coach of Clarendon College, said that with seven of his players featuring in their final fixture for the school, there was hunger for this title.

“I think we worked very hard this season for this as the boys wanted it the most. About seven of them are leaving, so they were hell-bent on defending the Olivier Shield, and you saw what they did. We didn’t start well, but as the game went on, we gradually picked up,” said Hyde.

Craig Butler, head coach of Mona, in his post-game assessment, playing a pressing game without scoring is a recipe for disaster.

“We got our chances but didn’t score, and when you don’t score while pressing, sooner or later, you’re going to break down. My boys played well, but Clarendon College were the better team on the field.”

orane.buchanan@gleanerjm.com