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George's ahead
BY PAUL A REID Observer Writer
Thursday, December 08, 2011
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Manning Cup champions St George's College took a big step toward securing all three available titles after taking a 1-0 lead over daCosta Cup champions Rusea's High in the first leg of the ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Olivier Shield play-offs yesterday at Jarrett Park.
Davian Kelly, who scored in both the Manning and Walker Cup finals, was the hero again yesterday when he got handed the Neville 'Bertis' Bell-coached team the lead after capitalising on a Rusea's error in the 56th minute.
St George's dominated the game from the start and should have scored more goals, but were frustrated by the Rusea's defence as well as wasting a number of chances.
After the game, when asked if he thought the one-goal margin would be enough, Bell told the Observer, "Rusea's is a good team, we wanted more but it's a lead and any lead is a good lead."
The almost two-week lay off since they completed their Corporate Area season might have helped, he said, as the team was tired.
The four days between winning the daCosta Cup in a hard-fought, physical game against St Elizabeth Technical and yesterday's game might not have been enough for Rusea's as Anthony 'Follies' Williams, the assistant coach, told the Observer the team might have been a bit mentally tired, "and made a number of mistakes and was not as quick to the ball as we should have been".
Williams described the situation as "a recurring decimal".
"This is the second straight year after the daCosta Cup we have come out so flat" he said, and while not seeking excuses, he added, "They had to go back and make the necessary adjustments for Saturday."
He added that the two changes they made did not help either.
The Rusea's defence and goalkeeper Richard Trench were kept busy in the first half as the St George's College team pushed them back deep in their own half for long periods.
At the other end of the field, the Kingston boys managed to keep the dangerous Brian Brown from getting any clean looks at goal.
St George's had their first real scoring chance in the 10th minute when Trench was beaten at his near left post, but managed to cut the angle of the striker as the ball was scrambled away for a corner.
Kelly got behind the Rusea's defence in the 22nd minute after a well worked three-man combination but his shot was blocked by the Rusea's defence and Ricardo Henry also had a scoring chance in the 44th when he got away down the right wing, but his shot missed the far post by inches.
Rusea's started well in the second half, but it was St George's who were rewarded when Kelly scored against the run of play.
A defender missed a long ball was booted towards the Rusea's area and Kelly latched on to it and easily got around the advancing Trench before playing it into the empty goal.
Both teams combined for a handful of chances late in the game. Rusea's had two good chances to draw level, first in the 72nd minute when Nicodie Haughton's cross from the left beat both Jovian James, who had replaced Demar Dohman and Brown on it way across the St George's goal face.
Two minutes later, Brown provided the square, also from the left, but none of his teammates was in place to make use of it with the St George's defence caught flat and left the goal unattended.
A half-volley from André Lewis from well outside the area flew just inches wide of the Rusea's goal in the 90th minute and in time added on, Trench had to come off his line to block substitute Cardell Benbow.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1fxdBGbdB
BY PAUL A REID Observer Writer
Thursday, December 08, 2011
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Manning Cup champions St George's College took a big step toward securing all three available titles after taking a 1-0 lead over daCosta Cup champions Rusea's High in the first leg of the ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Olivier Shield play-offs yesterday at Jarrett Park.
Davian Kelly, who scored in both the Manning and Walker Cup finals, was the hero again yesterday when he got handed the Neville 'Bertis' Bell-coached team the lead after capitalising on a Rusea's error in the 56th minute.
St George's dominated the game from the start and should have scored more goals, but were frustrated by the Rusea's defence as well as wasting a number of chances.
After the game, when asked if he thought the one-goal margin would be enough, Bell told the Observer, "Rusea's is a good team, we wanted more but it's a lead and any lead is a good lead."
The almost two-week lay off since they completed their Corporate Area season might have helped, he said, as the team was tired.
The four days between winning the daCosta Cup in a hard-fought, physical game against St Elizabeth Technical and yesterday's game might not have been enough for Rusea's as Anthony 'Follies' Williams, the assistant coach, told the Observer the team might have been a bit mentally tired, "and made a number of mistakes and was not as quick to the ball as we should have been".
Williams described the situation as "a recurring decimal".
"This is the second straight year after the daCosta Cup we have come out so flat" he said, and while not seeking excuses, he added, "They had to go back and make the necessary adjustments for Saturday."
He added that the two changes they made did not help either.
The Rusea's defence and goalkeeper Richard Trench were kept busy in the first half as the St George's College team pushed them back deep in their own half for long periods.
At the other end of the field, the Kingston boys managed to keep the dangerous Brian Brown from getting any clean looks at goal.
St George's had their first real scoring chance in the 10th minute when Trench was beaten at his near left post, but managed to cut the angle of the striker as the ball was scrambled away for a corner.
Kelly got behind the Rusea's defence in the 22nd minute after a well worked three-man combination but his shot was blocked by the Rusea's defence and Ricardo Henry also had a scoring chance in the 44th when he got away down the right wing, but his shot missed the far post by inches.
Rusea's started well in the second half, but it was St George's who were rewarded when Kelly scored against the run of play.
A defender missed a long ball was booted towards the Rusea's area and Kelly latched on to it and easily got around the advancing Trench before playing it into the empty goal.
Both teams combined for a handful of chances late in the game. Rusea's had two good chances to draw level, first in the 72nd minute when Nicodie Haughton's cross from the left beat both Jovian James, who had replaced Demar Dohman and Brown on it way across the St George's goal face.
Two minutes later, Brown provided the square, also from the left, but none of his teammates was in place to make use of it with the St George's defence caught flat and left the goal unattended.
A half-volley from André Lewis from well outside the area flew just inches wide of the Rusea's goal in the 90th minute and in time added on, Trench had to come off his line to block substitute Cardell Benbow.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1fxdBGbdB
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