Marshall stars for Cavalier

Former St George's schoolboy Alex Marshall on Monday night did a whole lot to allay fears of him being another schoolboy star who is unable to make the grade at the Red Stripe Premier League level. His impressive performance aided his team in its move from 10th to sixth position on the 12-team table.

The 19-year-old former Manning Cup standout had a hand in both goals as his team, Cavalier, recorded a 2-0 victory over the struggling Waterhouse at Drewsland. Showing bravery, strength and arrogance at intervals, Marshall who formed an effective attacking trio with Chevone Marsh and Nicholas Hamilton terrorised the Waterhouse backline.

He took a liking for the diminutive Shawn McKoy, who was sometimes made into his personal grass-cutter.

He sliced through the Waterhouse defence before unleashing a shot on goal which was too hot for goalkeeper Richard McCallum to handle. Lastson Reid rushed on to steer home the rebound in the 27th minute. He presented Nicholas Hamilton with a gift he could not refuse in the 42nd minute by dismissing all in his path on the left flank before serving a perfectly-placed cross for Nicholas Hamilton to direct past the hapless McCallum.

Though he did not find the net himself, the teenager was pleased with his performance and progress in the league thus far.

"Today I was just ready. I had on pegs, so I had an advantage over them (the defenders). I had also been putting in the work from preseason, so it is paying off now," Marshall explained.

While pleased with his own work, Marshall conceded that there may still be observers questioning his readiness for this level of football.

"People are still saying that I am not ready for big-man football, but I am growing and I am learning. I got a couple of national caps, and that experience is helping me to grow even more.

"In this game, I think, today, I performed in a mature way. I looked for the passes and tried to find my teammates. I did not just dribble and hold my head down," he pointed out.

According to Marshall, the readiness he showed was also influenced by a trial at German second division club St Pauli in 2016.

"I went to St Pauli last year and coming out of Manning Cup, I at that time had not played any senior football, so I guess I was not ready. They said that I was not physical enough, so I am just working on that. I am in the gym a lot, and I am seeing the benefits," he declared.