Semi-final matchups decided
Wolmer’s Boys’ defeated Charlie Smith High 3-0 in their rescheduled ISSA/ Digicel Manning Cup Group G quarter-final-round game, which was completed yesterday at Jamaica College’s Ashenheim Complex.
Heavy rains had halted the game at half-time on Tuesday with Wolmer’s leading 3-0. The remaining 45 minutes were played with no further goals, which meant that the Heroes’ Circle-based Wolmer’s finished second in the group behind Kingston College (KC).
Both teams finished with seven points from three games, but KC, with a superior goal difference of plus six, topped the group. Wolmer’s ended with plus four.
Camperdown, who lost 1-2 to KC on Tuesday, were third with three points, while Charlie Smith ended pointless.
Both Camperdown and Charlie Smith drop into the Walker Cup Knockout competition, while KC and Wolmer’s advance to the Manning Cup semi-finals.
Defending champions KC, in their fourth-consecutive semi-finals, will face Jamaica College (JC), who were second in Group H with two points.
JC are into their seventh-straight semis and their 11th in the last 13 years. Wolmer’s Boys’ will face St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) in the other semi-final.
This is the third-consecutive time for STATHS, while Wolmer’s makes a return to the top four for the first time since 2016.
Wolmer’s Boys’ Head Coach Alex Thomas said it was difficult to motivate his team to play the final 45 minutes with the knowledge that they have already qualified, so it was “just a stroll day”.
He added: “But nevertheless, we are going against a wellcoached STATHS team and we are ready for the challenge. It’s gonna be a hard game but in a semi-finals it doesn’t matter who you play. You just have to prepare for whoever comes on the day and we are ready for the semis next Thursday.”
After almost three months of competition, the Manning Cup is now down to just four teams. KC, after ending a 31-year drought, will be hoping to defend their title, while JC eye a record 30th title.
Wolmer’s hope to disrupt a 25-year drought, while STATHS are looking to end their 32-year wait.
—Howard Walker
