Calabar hold JC, KC dominant

Fans at Stadium East were treated to exciting football across both matches in a double header yesterday as Calabar High held Jamaica College (JC) in an intense 3-3 draw while Kingston College (KC) routed Hydel 6-1 in the second round of the ISSA Manning Cup competition.

In the first encounter of the afternoon, Calabar earned a well-deserved point after clawing their way back into the game against JC despite falling behind twice.

Calabar head coach Andrew Price was the happier of the two coaches after the match, praising his team for their fight against a tough opponent.

“We told the youngsters to just continue to fight,” Price said.

“We have been underdogs all season. People didn’t expect us to be where we are right now, and we came out here and fought. We showed character, and we believe in ourselves, and we believe we can get results against big teams.

“I told the team we’re stepping up in class in the second round. We’re playing good teams, and Jamaica College is an excellent team, and to get a result from this game is a plus for the team going into the remainder of the round.”

Calabar opened the scoring in the fourth minute of the game when O’Bryan Marks caught the goalkeeper off his line with a looping effort from distance.

Their lead would not last long, however, as a pair of strikes from Jahmarly Bennett and Nashordo Gibbs in the 10th and 16th minutes, respectively, saw JC taking the lead in the contest.

OWN GOAL

Kevaun Campbell would pull Calabar level at the hour mark, however, they would again fall behind when defender Damano Blackford mistakenly put the ball into the back of his own net.

However, Kaheim Rankine would salvage a point for Calabar in time added on as his low-drive nestled into the back of the net.

The win sees Calabar and JC in joint second in the group standing with one point apiece. St Catherine lead the way following their 1-0 win over Charlie Smith.

In the second encounter of the afternoon, KC banished the ghosts of last season when they schooled Hydel in dominant fashion.

The fixture was a rematch of last season’s semi-finals where Hydel had eliminated the famed purples of North Street.

Goals from Kamaul Patterson (8’), Kvist Paul (20’), Deshawn Byfield (36’, 77’), Shereef Ricketts (57’) and Zaire Douse (86’) led the way in KC’s opening salvo of the second round.

Ronaldo Barrett’s goal from the penalty spot proved to be a consolation.

Byfield said last season’s defeat was at the forefront of the team’s mind when they took to the field against Hydel.

“From last night I couldn’t sleep because I was thinking about this game,” he said in his post-match interview.

“This team was the team that knocked us out last year, so we couldn’t make that happen again. We couldn’t lose again, so we had to come out here and show the manager and everybody that we can do it because they have done everything for us.”

The win points KC in pole position of their second-round group as STATHS and Wolmer’s Boys sit joint-second after their 2-2 draw on Friday.

Hydel have fallen to the foot of the table with a lot of ground to make up if they are to advance to the next round of competition.

Gregory Bryce

Yesterday’s results

Jamaica College 1-1 Calabar

Kingston College 6-1 Hydel

Eltham 2-3 Excelsior

St George’s College 0-3 Campion College

Tivoli 5-0 Jonathan Grant

St Catherine 1-0 Charlie Smith