Marauding Mona dismiss Charlie Smith to begin Manning Cup quarterfinals
KINGSTON, Jamaica – A ruthless Mona High School team ripped Charlie Smith High to shreds to begin the quarterfinal round of the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup, as they ran out 4-0 winners to surge to the top of Group 1 at the Stadium East Field on Saturday.
Romario Thomas and Sean Leighton gave Mona a 2-0 half-time lead before Kshaine Gordon and Zhaine Pinnock completed the rout in the second half.
Having watched Kingston College (KC) put it over on neighbours St George’s College (STGC) with a 4-1 win in the opening encounter in the group, Mona got off to a fast start against Charlie Smith as they were determined to stay in touch with KC.
Charlie Smith were forced to defend early, but looked dangerous on the counterattack, however, were unable to create any real goal scoring opportunities.
Mona must have been thinking that it was going to be one of those days when the Charlie Smith defenders threw themselves in front of the ball to block a few goal-bound efforts to keep the score at 0-0.
Then in the 31st minute, Mona were given the perfect opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty kick, however, Thomas could only hit the outside of the post as the ball went behind for a goal kick.
Thomas atoned for his error four minutes later when his deflected effort from close range found its way into the back of the net.
A minute before the break, Leighton powered home Mona’s second as they piled on the pressure on a wilting Charlie Smith defence.
There was no letting up in the second half from Mona as they turned up the pressure on the tiring legs of the Charlie Smith defenders.
Gordon was terrorizing the Charlie Smith defenders with his continuous runs down the right flank but was unable to get in that telling cross to create another goal scoring opportunity for his teammates.
He then decided to take things into his own hands and ran by a defender before sticking the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-0 in the 57th minute.
Mona completed the scoring in the second half when the consistent Pinnock put his name on the score sheet with a close-range finish to make it 4-0 sending Mona to the top of the group on goal difference.
Action in group one will continue on Wednesday when KC face Charlie Smith while Mona High will go up against STGC at the same venue.
