Despite the disappointment of their Manning Cup campaign, St George’s College’s (STGC) Assistant Coach Marcel Gayle says his team remains motivated to cap the season on a high, especially with the ISSA/Digicel Walker Cup knockout competition shaping up to crown a new champion.

Gayle pointed to yesterday’s 2-1 quarter-final win over Excelsior High in tough underfoot conditions at Jamaica College as an indication of their intentions to cop the Walker Cup, which they last won in 2014 for a 10th time.

Brian Burkett’s 56th-minute strike and a 82nd-minute own goal by Excelsior’s Lennon Green sent the “Light Blues” through to the final four. Nickalia Fuller (90+3) pulled one back for Excelsior.

Interestingly, two-time defending champions St Catherine are in danger of relinquishing the title, as they trailed Haile Selassie 2-0 after 66 minutes when the game, which started late at Spanish Prison Oval, was called off due to poor visibility. That contest is expected to be concluded today.

But that is neither here nor there for Gayle, who is focused on achieving their objective.

“The fire is still in their eyes because they are still motivated to win a trophy to end the season,” Gayle told the Jamaica Observer in a post-game interview. “So we are just going to keep working and do what we have to do because at this point of the competition every team is good, so we just have to prepare ourselves to face anybody we get.”

Though the underfoot conditions caused by early afternoon showers took away from the quality of the contest, both STGC and Excelsior gave as good as they got.

After playing out a goalless first half, both teams came out lively on the resumption, but it was STGC that grabbed the ascendancy 11 minutes in when Burkett fired home.

Excelsior responded with a good attacking spell well past the hour mark but had nothing to show for it at that point, as they squandered a number of fairly good chances from close range, Stephen Daley and Rushean Russell being the main culprits.

They would later pay for their profligacy as St George’s doubled their lead when Adrian Reid Jr’s corner kick was deflected in by Excelsior’s Green.

The Mountain View Avenue team eventually pulled one back through Fuller’s well-taken penalty kick after the ball was handled inside the danger area, but too little too late would be their cry.

Gayle lauded his boys for their executing well for the most parts.

“I think we were disciplined to an extent, we conceded a late goal, but I won’t discount the guys effort. It was a team effort, all the players held their heads high and worked hard for each other,” he said.

Excelsior’s Head Coach Xavier Gilbert also praised his teams effort.

“It was a good game, the boys gave it their all. I think we could have won had we taken our chances but such is the game,” Gilbert said.

Results

Excelsior 1, St George’s Coll 2

St Cath 0, Haile Selassie 2

(game called off due to bad

light; to be completed today)