Campion keep semi-final hopes alive

NEEDING A win to keep their hopes of a semi-final place alive, Campion College delivered a 2-0 win over Excelsior High School in their Group B Manning Cup quarter-final match at Stadium East, to stay in the hunt.

Goals from Tyler Falconer (21st minute) and Djaz Less (67th) gave Campion their first-ever win over the former champions, moving them to joint second in the group with St Catherine on three points.

Hydel, after their 2-0 win over St Catherine at the Prison Oval, jumped to the top of the standings on four points, while Excelsior dropped to the bottom with one.

Campion coach, Newton Sterling, said their only intention was getting the win on the day, and thought his players executed well.

“The plan was to get three points. We needed it. We started shakily but we went on and executed. They (Excelsior) got a few chances. Fortunately for us, they didn’t convert. But we got our chances and converted and you saw the result,” he said.

In an exciting first half, Campion should have gone ahead after just five minutes but Falconer was foiled by goalkeeper Shawn Salmon after he was played through by Nicholai Banton.

Excelsior responded three minutes later through Kivann Salmon, who slalomed through the middle of the field, but goalkeeper Alex James palmed his strike over for a corner.

Kimarly Scott came close to handing Excelsior the lead but he could not connect cleanly with a Salmon cross from the right.

Wasted chances

Though Excelsior looked the more likely to score first, it was Campion who jumped into the lead, thanks to a fantastic strike from Falconer from the edge of the area.

Banton then had a good chance moments later, but he shot into the side netting, while Shadeko Wizzard rattled the bar for Excelsior from 20 yards in the 25th minute.

Falconer also came close to a second but his shot trickled past the upright with Salmon completely beaten.

The Mountain View Avenue-based Excelsior continued to press their opponents after the interval but Campion kept things tight at the back and forced potshots from long range.

Falconer missed a great chance to add to Campion’s lead but his lob over Salmon fell wide.

Nevertheless, stand-in captain Less got the second goal moments later when he stole possession and slotted past Salmon to make it 2-0.

The lanky midfielder nearly added a third in the 73rd but his shot slammed against the post.

Kivann Salmon remained Excelsior’s most dangerous player and he seemed sure to score when he broke through in the 75th minute, but an excellent block from defender Jaeden Morgan denied the winger.

James then pushed a header from Scott from six yards out over in the 79th minute, while Christopher McDonald could not turn home from six yards in the 85th as Excelsior piled on the pressure in an effort to get back.

However, Campion held out to take the three points and keep their hopes alive going into the last round of games against Hydel.

Excelsior coach Keon Broderick credited his opponents for their application.

“Campion is a quality team despite what the history would have said, and they showed it today.

“Campion was good in the attacking transition. Both goals came from mistakes but they did something well in terms of attacking the spaces quickly in the transition, and credit to them for that,” he said.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com