All-Manning whip T&T SSFL All-Stars.
By: Andrew Hancel, Observer Reporter.[/size]
We stuck to the game plan, says coach Hunt.Goals from Andre Fagan, Keammar Daley and Craig Hunter helped the Coporate Area's All-Manning football team to a 3-1 beating of the Trinidad and Tobago All-Stars at Constant Spring Sport Complex yesterday. Striker Lester Peltier scored the lone goal for the Trinidadians.
With just eight minutes gone in the game, the All-Manning team took the lead through Fagan, who fired a fierce shot past goalkeeper Leston Shade as the David Hunt-coached aggregation sought their footing early in the proceedings.
The young Soca Warriors were unperturbed by the early setback, however, as they held their composure and displayed superior technique and cohesion.
They would be rewarded for their discipline 10 minutes later when Peltier weaved his way through the belly of the Jamaica midfield while shaking off some three defenders before unleashing a grounder into the far corner of the goal.
And though they went into the half-time break a goal down, the scoreline could have been different as Peltier's flick-on from a right-sided free-kick crashed off the upright.
Further, midfielder Elton John's singing shot from point-blanked range from inside the six-yard box miraculously sailed over the crossbar.
Jamaica College skipper Daley, who is also the All-Manning captain, scored from the penalty spot after the referee called for a handball infringement inside penalty-box two minutes from the break.
The changes were fast and furious in the second half as both coaches - Hunt in particular - strove to give the other players on the bench some exposure.
All of nine changes were made by the winning Manning Cup standard-bearers, compared to five made by the visiting team as the game picked up pace, yet lacked intensity for the majority of the second period.
While the Jamaicans took control in the process, the visitors lost two of their better players in Khaleem Hyland and John due to injuries sustained earlier in the game which forced them to be substituted.
In spite of this glitch, however, the All-Manning team were kept at bay until the final minute of official play when substitute Hunter headed home from a Jermaine Allen cross.
Despite being outplayed in the end, Selris Figaro, coach of the Trinidad and Tobago all-star team, was not disappointed.
"Jamaica outplayed us so we have to just rebound and come again," he said with a smile.
Hunt, meanwhile, praised his opponents for their good showing, but said his team basically stuck to the game plan and therefore came away with the victory.
"I think they (Trinidadians) stuck to the task. At first they upset our rhythm in the game, but we settled down well after that," he said. Tomorrow, the visitors will go up against the Carl Palmer-coached All-daCosta Cup team at Brancourt Park in Clarendon.
All-Manning midfielder Troy Watson (left) challenges T&T All-Schools' Jamal Wiggins for possession during their challenge match at Constant Spring Complex yesterday. The All-Manning team won, 3-1. ...(Photo: Garfield Robinson).
Jamaicans outclass Trinidad and Tobago side.
By: Howard Walker, Staff Reporter.[/size]
The ALL-Manning selection scored an easy 3-1 win over the Trinidad and Tobago All Schools team in the first leg of the Jamaica/Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Friendship Trophy at the Constant Spring Complex yesterday.
Goals by Andre Fagon in the seventh, captain Keamar Daley's penalty in the 43rd and Craig Hunter's header in the 90th propelled the local boys to their convincing victory.
The dangerous Lester Peltier held off two defenders before rifling a low shot past diving Oneil Wilson in goal in the 20th minute to briefly give his team some parity.
TWO-GOAL ADVANTAGEThe All-daCosta Cup team will now have a two-goal advantage going into tomorrow's second-leg game at Brancourt, Clarendon starting at 3:00 p.m. Winning coach, David Hunt, said the game was one of "spurts".
"We started excellently, got a goal and then we just went to sleep before Trinidad slowly took over the game. Then we got back and dominated," Hunt, the coach of Manning Cup champions Calabar, said.
"It's a matter of concentration and hopefully these players will get some more exposure at the international level to see different styles," he noted. I think we should have scores at least two more goal. But we did our part for the All-daCosta Cup team, " he added.
Meanwhile, Selris Figaro, coach of the Trinidad schoolboys had no doubts about which team was the better. "You all outplayed us, totally," said Figaro. "You were faster to the ball and more aggressive. Our players were messing around and making mistakes.
"This Jamaican team was making no mistakes. We'll have to bounce and recover for the next game," he said. The All-Manning team, decked out in black shorts and yellow and black tops, started the game with six players from champions Calabar.
The local boys got off to a fast start when in the seventh minute Norman Manley striker Fagon collected a ball in the box and fired past the diving Leston Shade in goal.
But T&T fought back through the speedy and dangerous Lester Peltier, Akil DeFreitas, Elton John and Elijah Mannors.
FORGED AHEAD.In the 20th minute, Peltier won a ball from Norman Bailey in midfield and held off two defenders before placing his shot wide of Wilson.
But two minutes before the break, the All-Manning team forged ahead from the penalty spot as captain Daley easily converted. The expected unlimited changes came in the second half as the prolific Jermaine Allen, Craig Hunter, Wayne Walker and Kenardo Forbes entered the fray.
And with time running out, it was the combination of Forbes and Hunter that got All-Manning their third goal. Forbes, out of Bridgeport High, sped down the right flank and crossed perfectly to Hunter who could not miss with his header from close range.
