KC rebound, run riot over Cumberland

KINGSTON COLLEGE (KC) banished any doubts of their title contender status when they ran riot against Cumberland in a dominant 18-0 victory at Stadium East in the ISSA/WATA Manning Cup yesterday.

Still wary after their shock draw against Penwood in their opening game, KC wasted no time stamping their class on the game this time around.

Four goals from Deshawn Bernard and Kajay Fletcher, hat tricks from Kimani Reece and Kamaul Patterson, a brace from Damaine Smith, and a lone strike from Christano Myers sealed the win for the famed Purples.

KC’s head coach Vassell Reynolds said the result was a massive statement of intent from his players who needed to banish the ghosts of Penwood past.

“A statement win, if you may call it that,” he said.

“I thought we did well enough last week Monday against Penwood to have won that game, but we just never executed in front of goal. I asked them to continue on that same vein by creating the chances, but this time, to make use of them.

“We just had a little bump in terms of what happened last week Monday, so I said to them it’s better that this happened in our first game so we can learn not to take any team for granted.”

The boys from North Street got the ball rolling early in the fixture, going up by three goals within the first 10 minutes.

Patterson opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a cracking finish from distance before Fletcher doubled the lead with a strike from just outside the box in the 10th.

Smith would make it three just a minute when his tame penalty kick trickled under the arm of the goalkeeper.

The rampant scoring would continue for KC with the pick of the bunch being a brilliant display of skill from Reece, who dribbled past three defenders before laying it off to Smith who finished with ease.

KC would head into the half-time break with a 9-0 lead and go on to please Reynolds with their unwillingness to take their foot off the throttle.

“Overall it wasn’t a bad performance albeit the opponents were on the weaker side. The number of goals shared across the team was a good sign.

“One of the good things from this game also was that we scored nine goals in the first half, so there was clear intent and they kept it up in the second half; they didn’t become complacent.”

KC’s next assignment will be a date with Jose Marti Technical High.

While Reynolds said he is not expecting another lopsided scoreline, he is confident his team can place another good performance in the first round.

The result also means KC move atop Zone C on goal difference ahead of Penwood.

Yesterday’s Results

KC 18-0 Cumberland

STATHS 1-0 Calabar

JC 11-0 Ascott

Excelsior 7-1 Bridgeport

Holy Trinity 0-4 St Catherine

Papine 0-10 St George’s