Wolmer’s Boys School closed the gap on Group E leaders Jamaica College with a 3-0 win over Tarrant High School in their ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup game yesterday at the Stadium East field.
The Maroons are yet to be beaten in this year’s campaign, registering their sixth win of the season, moving them to 20 points, solidifying their position in second place.
An own goal by Tarrant goalkeeper Jonathan Currie broke the deadlock four minutes from the end of the first half, and second-half strikes from Revaldo Mitchell and Shamour McLean powered Wolmer’s towards victory despite them being frustrated by their play in the first half.
Wolmer’s assistant coach Irvino English said that he knew that it would have been be a tough encounter considering that their last meeting ended in a 2-2 draw.
“We had to work really hard for this victory today,” he said after the game. “We knew that Tarrant was going to come out and fight because the last time we met each other, it was 2-2. We knew that it was going to be difficult, but we just have to be grateful for the three points.”
Tarrant High head coach Calvert Fitzgerald said that his team gave their all but were just outdone by the quality of the opposition.
“We have a pretty reasonable starting 11 but this Wolmer’s team is stacked deep,” he said. “We wanted to stay in the game for as long as possible. [Had it not been for] the first goal, an error by our goalkeeper, we would have gone into half-time nil-all. But I thought we gave it our best shot. But this Wolmer’s side is just better than my team at the moment.”
It took a lot more time for Wolmer’s to get settled in the early exchanges, but they began getting their chances as the first half went on. Lynch had an effort that was saved by Currie before Ty McKetty forced a double save out of him as Tarrant tried to weather the Maroons’ attacking wave. They got their breakthough, albeit in fortuitous circumstances, in the 41st minute, when a Wolmer’s cross from the right side should have been safely held by Currie but was mishandled and dropped into net.
From there, Wolmer’s had the run of play throughout the second half and were rewarded with a goal of their own making when Mitchell’s low drive from inside the penalty area went past the diving Currie and into the back of the net. McLean confirmed the points 10 minutes from the end after a great interplay found him. He then drilled a powerful drive that rippled the Tarrant net.
Yesterday’s ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup results:
Group B:
Donald Quarrie 2-1 Denham Town
Charlie Smith 0-1 Jonathan Grant
Kingston High 1-3 Ascot
Group E
Innswood 0-4 Jamaica College
Wolmer’s 3-0 Tarrant
Vauxhall 2-0 Jose Marti