Statements litter week one of schoolboy football

WITH THE first week of the schoolboy football season now complete, the early contenders and dark horses have begun to announce themselves.

Several of the ISSA/WATA daCosta and Manning cups’ perennial favourites have started with dominant performances, with a few standout names already catching headlines.

Such is the case for Glenmuir High School’s Orel Miller, who is off to the races in the daCosta Cup, bagging seven goals in his first three games, including back-to-back hat tricks against Kemps Hill High and Porus High.

Miller headlines a star-studded Glenmuir outfit, who have recorded a perfect start to life in Zone I with three wins from as many games and 20 goals scored throughout.

The reigning Champions Cup winners will be hoping to break their 12-year drought in the daCosta Cup but will have to see off competition from defending daCosta Cup champions Clarendon College.

Perfect record

Clarendon College are enjoying life in Zone H with a perfect record as well, even if not as prolific. They recorded a 2-1 win over Denbigh High followed by 2-0 victory over Lennon High.

While they have not matched the scoring output of Glenmuir, Clarendon College will take confidence from their style of play which sees them dominating their opponents in the first round.

Over in the Manning Cup, the rule of the day is overwhelming victories for the early title contenders with Mona High, Jamaica College (JC), Kingston College (KC), St George’s College (STGC), and Hydel High just some of the names to have registered lopsided results.

Mona started their campaign with a comfortable 7-0 drubbing of Waterford which seemed to have inspired their competition to flex their scoring muscles as well.

JC have answered the challenge and have since scored 20 goals in two games, dismissing Pembroke Hall High 9-0 in their group opener before thrashing Ascot High 11-0 in their second act.

JC, however, will face a much sterner test in their next outing this week when they take on Excelsior on Thursday for a clash of Zone F giants.

Hydel also registered a massive win, defeating Ardenne High 9-0 in their solitary game so far.

KC started with a shock 2-2 draw against Penwood High, but recovered to send Cumberland packing with an 18-0 hiding, the largest margin of victory in the early exchanges.

Their North Street neighbours STGC have also got in on the fun with two wins from two starts in Zone G.

Following their opening 2-0 win against Holy Trinity, STGC head coach Neville Bell said he expected more goals from his squad and his players happily obliged, defeating Papine 10-0 in their second game.

Perhaps a dark horse of notice is the rising force of Eltham, who grabbed fans attentions when they defeated Clan Carthy 5-0 before dismantling Ardenne 10-0 to take charge of Zone A with two wins and a positive 15-goal difference.

The Spanish Town-based school has positioned itself as one to look out for outside of the usual suspects.