Campion look to rebound despite tough Penwood test

CAMPION COLLEGE head coach Newton Sterling said his team will be hoping to return to winning ways in the ISSA Manning Cup today when they play hosts to Penwood High.

Campion were blanked 5-0 by Kingston College (KC) in their last outing in Zone C action. The loss was their first of the season and saw them falling behind zone leaders, KC and Penwood.

Campion now sit third in the zone on seven points while KC and Penwood are level on points in first and second respectively, each amassing 10 points.

Sterling said despite the heavy defeat to KC, he is confident his team can regain their winning form and make a charge for qualification to the second round of the Manning Cup.

“No, we’re not worried about losing one game of football,” Sterling insisted. “Winning and losing is a part of the sport. We just now have to take it from here and I don’t see why it should impact us for our next game or even going through to the next round.”

However, Campion are expected to face a stern test from Penwood who have been enjoying a fairytale run so far in the first round of competition.

Penwood are unbeaten in four games and will be looking to extend their record against the Campionites.

Penwood will also be buoyed by their recent 1-0 victory over Jose Marti Technical High, who have now slumped to two defeats in a row.

Also in Zone C action, KC are expected to secure a routine three points when they travel to face a downtrodden Meadowbrook High unit.

After their initial stumble against Penwood, a 2-2 draw, KC have been near unstoppable in front of goal led by their ever-confident striker Demario Dailey.

KC, with 27 goals to date, are the most prolific team in the competition, a feat head coach Vassell Reynolds is proud of.

“It is how we set up the team, we have attacking players on the pitch at all times. If you notice, the goals are coming from not just one or two players, but from all over the pitch. That is how we train and the players are capable of doing just that,” he said.

“Once they understand their roles and responsibilities, they will do well. We lost two points in the first game which was a game many people expected us to get all three points. So our job is to ensure over the next two or three games, we keep going and accumulate some points and we’re doing that game by game.”

In a complete contrast, Meadowbrook High School have been dismal in front of goal, only scoring three times this season and winning only one point from their last four games.

All fixtures are set to kick off at 3:30 p.m.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com

Today’s Games

Eltham vs Hydel

Haile Selassie vs STATHS

Vauxhall vs Camperdwon

Bridgeport vs JCPembroke Hall vs Excelsior

Campion vs Penwood

Meadowbrook vs KC

Jose Marti vs Cumberland

All games begin at 3:30 pm*