Having netted his first goal of the season against host Wolmer’s Boys’, St Jago goalkeeper Leighton Murray says he is now hungry for a lot more goals in this year’s ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup competition.

Murray netted a brilliant free kick in the 32nd minute to help St Jago to a 1-1 draw in their top-of-the-table clash in Zone G at the Mico University College yesterday. Addon Daye scored for Wolmer’s in the 62nd minute of the game.

The 17-year-old Murray, who plays in the junior leagues for Harbour View, said he was delighted with his performance and that he is even more confident that he will score many more goals in the second round of the competition.

“For this free kick, I was fully focused because I practise a lot in training, and so when I stepped up to take it, I knew that I was going to score,” said Murray. “I was very confident about it because I wanted to make my school proud because they believe a lot in me that I can do it.”

“This is just the start of many more to come from this season because I am going to go back and work a lot harder on my game and continue to practise these free kicks in training everyday,” Murray went on.

He added that he was also very pleased with his team’s performance because they played well. I think it was a fair result for us because we played well and to get a one point, we are good with that,” Murray added.

Wolmer’s finished atop the Zone with 25 points three ahead of St Jago. They were followed by Papine on 16, Vauxhall on 11, Donald Quarrie on seven and Ascot on two.

Jerome Waite, head coach of Wolmer’s, said he was pleased with his team’s performance.

“I think that the goalkeeper came up big for St Jago and I think that was one of the things that made the big difference in this game,” said Waite.

“St Jago got a goal from their goalkeeper through a very good free-kick, but we showed determination and we showed fight and we got back that equaliser, and so in the end, I think it was a fair result for us,” he said.

Murray, who had an excellent game for his team, stunned the home fans when he fired home a brilliant 30-yard free-kick which flew past fellow custodian Roan Melford like rocket to give his team 1-0 lead at half time.

However, Wolmer’s fought back strongly in the second half as they created several open chances, but faulty finishing from their attackers Daye, Jayden Walters and Nathaniel Brooks let them down.

Wolmer’s were finally rewarded for their dominance when Daye ran by two defenders to fire home past Murray who was advancing off his goal line.

The live wire Daye should have doubled Wolmer’s lead 10 minutes later, but he fired high over the crossbar from 10 yards.

Yesterday’s results

Cedar Grove Academy 1, Excelsior 5

Wolmer’s 1, St Jago 1

Papine 3, Vauxhall 1

Jonathan Grant 8, Greater Portmore 0

Haile Selassie 2, Eltham 0

Ascot 2, Donald Quarrie 2

Meadowbrook 0, Jamaica College 8

Dunoon 6, Denham Town 2

Today’s games

Mona vs St Catherine @ St Catherine High School

Holy Trinity vs Norman Manley @ Maxfield Field Park