Walker Cup semi-finalists Mona dominant, Excelsior perfect from the spot
Published:Thursday | November 21, 2024 | 12:14 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
EXCELSIOR BRAVED the dread of penalties to secure their spot in the semi-final of the 2024 ISSA Walker Cup knockout competition, earning a 7-6 victory over Eltham at the Stadium East field yesterday.
The game ended 0-0 in regulation time.
Later, dethroned Manning Cup champions Mona High School wasted little time proving their quality, dismissing St Jago 3-0 to make their way into the semi-final.
Mona’s job was done in the first half, with Savi-K Morton opening the scoring in the 13th minute, followed by K’shaine Gordon in the 29th. The disparity between the teams was accentuated early in the second half when Cameron Sailsman scored.
Earlier, both Excelsior and Eltham had their fair chances of securing a goal in regulation time but somehow failed to capitalise.
Eltham’s Santana Headley was gifted with a glorious opportunity but failed to convert, sending his 15th-minute header wide despite finding himself unmarked in the box.
Eltham controlled the tempo of the game in the early proceedings and were rewarded with a 32nd-minute opportunity, but Antonio Fearon’s effort only managed to find the upright.
Excelsior would grow into the game, though, with Kimarly Scott’s powerful left-footed shot that smashed into the post in the 46th minute the highlight.
For the most part, both teams defended well, cancelling out the efforts to break the deadlock.
The last meaningful effort of regulation time fell to the boots of Scott again, in the 79th minute, but was kept out by a superb one-handed save from Eltham’s custodian, Dameco Francis.
As penalty picks went into sudden death, Eltham’s Kevin Clarke sent his shot over the bar, providing Excelsior with their ticket to the semi-finals.
Keon Broderick, head coach of Excelsior, said while his boys were a bit ‘lethargic’ on the day, he was pleased with the victory.
“When you play, you don’t want it to go to penalties because it now becomes do or die. We wanted to finish it before, but the boys did a good job. Also, we were a bit lethargic following our elimination from the Manning Cup,” he stated.
Gregory Allen, head coach of Eltham, said his team paid dearly for not converting their chances in regulation time.
“We got chances and didn’t take them, and this is what happens in football. In football, it will live to haunt you, and that is what occurred. Over the course of the season, I believe we performed well, and I have to give them credit as they had a better season than last year.”