Coach Williams savours win as ‘Charlie’ make quarter-finals
CHARLIE Smith High Head Coach Eugene William says while he was not pleased with the performance of his team, making it to the quarter-finals in the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup competition was all that mattered to him.
After playing out to a 1-1 draw with Campion College in the firs leg of their round of 16 encounter on Tuesday, Charlie Smith defeated their opponents 2-0 in their return leg at Stadium East on Friday, the first game of a double-header, to advance with a 3-1 aggregate.
Captain Dacquan Green scored in the 23rd minute and Christopher Wilson netted in the 50th to pave the way for Charlie Smith into the next round.
“The most important thing was to get the victory, and we did. We may not have played up to our crafts but we wanted the win — and we did just that,” Williams told the Jamaica Observer.
“The guys played like butterflies were in their bellies, they were so nervous, but the greatest thing is that we have qualified for the quarter-finals. Not quite pleased with the performance but at the same time we can’t bash them.
“Last year’s Manning Cup these guys were not playing in front of any supporters so it was a different kettle of fish for them and so they won the game, which was the most important thing. Our chances of winning the competition are as good as any,” he stated.
Both Charlie Smith and Campion College started the game in a cautious mode and clearly neither wanted to make any mistake that could cost them the match. However, Charlie Smith struck first as Green found the back of the net in the 23rd minute to put Campion College on the backfoot.
Campion College had a clear opportunity to level the score but Turane McIntosh, with only the keeper to beat, headed a well-taken free kick into the hands of Kyle Cunningham in the 42nd to end the first half with Charlie Smith 1-0 up.
Charlie Smith came out the more aggressive of the two teams on the resumption and were duly rewarded with their second in the 50th minute when Wilson floated one wide of Jonrae Small who was in goal for Campion College, effectively putting the game to rest.
