Spence four-timer puts George’s back in Zone B top spot

STRIKER MATTHEW Spence scored four times as St George’s College defeated Papine High School 5-0 to reclaim top spot in Zone G of the ISSA Manning Cup at Winchester Park yesterday.

The stocky forward opened the scoring in the seventh minute before adding to Paytom Larmond’s 27th-minute doubler to net in the 45th, 58th and 63rd minutes. The win was the Neville ‘Bertis’ Bell-coached team’s fourth win in five matches.

The win put St George’s on 13 points, the same as St Catherine, but they enjoy a superior goal difference.

Spence, who took his tally to eight for the season, said it was a total team effort and that he could not have done it without his teammates.

“The game plan was to come out and enjoy ourselves and do what we know best. Four goals. I mean it’s not just me. It’s more about the team. They set me up and I just score,” he said.

Assistant coach, Marcel Gayle, thought their opponents showed much more discipline than their first meeting. On that occasion, the Georgians had run out 10-0 winners.

“They stayed behind the ball and applied a little more discipline. Nevertheless, we got five goals and a clean sheet and the objectives were met. But we have seen consistency in keeping clean sheets, and that is a plus going forward,” he said.

The home team started out dictating possession and searching for openings. They eventually got the breakthrough when Larmond was brought down inside the box and Spence converted the spot kick to put his team ahead.

Midway the half, Larmond slotted home a low cross from 12 yards to make it 2-0, before Spence added his second and his team’s third with a low strike in first-half stoppage time.

Despite the scoreline, Papine never made it easy for the hosts, even after Spence’s two second-half goals put the game out of their reach.

“We didn’t want to concede as much as the first game,” Papine coach Micheal Blygen commented.

“So we played with a low block. So we could stop them scoring as much goals as possible. Which worked to some level.

“The mentality was also a bit better than the first game. You could see the fight. And that is what we ask every game. To never give up. Fight to the last breath.”

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Yesterday’s Results

St Mary’s College 1-6 St Jago

Eltham 6-0 Ardenne

Clan Carthy 1-2 Dunoon

Haile Selassie 0-1 Calabar

STATHS 1-0 Vauxhall

JC 18-0 Pembroke Hall

Bridgeport 4-0 Ascott

St George’s College 5-0 Papine