A clearly injured Zhaine Pinnock came off the bench in the first half to help Mona High overcome a spirited Camperdown High 4-3 in the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup competition at the Courtney Walsh Oval at Excelsior High on Thursday.

In their first encounter earlier this season, Mona had no problems getting by Camperdown as they overran them 9-2 on their home patch.

However, most of the Camperdown players who were suspended for that first game were available on Thursday, making them a different and more challenging opposition for the unbeaten Mona High.

It was a very competitive and exciting game that also had its fair share of controversy, but at the end of 90 minutes, Mona made it seven wins from seven games with Pinnock providing half of his team’s goals in the game, as he took his tally to eleven for the season.

Pinnock’s first goal put his team ahead 2-1 in the first half while his second goal drew his team level at 3-3 in the second half, in what was a rollercoaster of a game.

No doubt, he was feeling good about his individual performance and the team’s performance at the end of the match.

“I feel very great about my performance. I could not have done it without my teammates and my coaches,” he said.

Pinnock was introduced into the game after his teammate Matthew Hibbert had to leave the game early with an injury and despite carrying an injury himself, the winger soldiered on until the final whistle.

He said the instructions from his coach Craig Butler when he was being sent on to play were very simple.

“The coach told me to go on and do what I could do, and I did that.”

Last season Pinnock showed flashes of what he has been delivering this season and he said that it has been a natural progression for him.

“It is down to hard work and my growth as a footballer,” he explained.

And with three matches left to play in the first round of the competition, Pinnock is convinced that Mona will complete their slate of game unbeaten.

“I am 100 per cent sure about that,” he proclaimed.

Butler was proud of the effort he got from one of his leading players this season.

“Zhaine employed the tactics we asked of him today. He is not just carrying a niggle, he is hurt and he is playing hurt and that boy played well. He played with a lot of heart,” said a very emotional Butler who was brought to tears when speaking of his young charge.

Pinnock was named man-of-the-match for his performance and will be racing against time to be fit enough for their next game against Wolmer’s Boys on Tuesday.