JC thump STATHS to book Manning final berth
AFTER Jamaica College (JC) stormed into yet another ISSA/WATA Manning Cup final, Head Coach Raymond Watson says the team is desperate to add to their 31 titles, having not done so since 2022.
The Old Hope Road school registered a dominant win 4-0 over St Andrew Technical High (STATHS) in the semi-final at the National Stadium last night.
A double from Duwayne Burger and a goal each from Jamone Lyles and Jamoy Dennis did the job for JC who will contest their first final in three years.
Watson says their wait for the coveted urban area title has been too long.
“It’s needed. It’s not even that we want to — it’s needed. It’s something that we’ve been looking for it from last year and this year we need it, definitely need it,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
JC had the favourites tag last season but were unable to make the final.
Watson says this squad is more equipped to challenge for the trophy.
“We had a quality team last year but things happen. But, this year’s team is a more hard-working team,” he said.
“Last year I thought we probably had more quality individuals. Not saying we didn’t play team football but this team works more as a unit. We don’t have that so-called star name, big-name player in the team so we try to get them to work more as a unit.”
JC will now take on Excelsior in Friday’s final at the National Stadium.
The 38-year drought continues for STATHS but Head Coach Philip Williams says the team continues to overachieve.
“If you look at it in a finer detail, I would say yes,” he told the Observer. “When you look at talent for talent, we don’t have that but what we do is we train hard, we work hard, and we make the best use of the resources that we have here. That’s why we are so consistent.
“To go over the hump, we need to look at restructuring our recruitment so that we can have more quality players to add to the programme and see if we can push to get over the last hurdle.”
After a slow start, JC found their feet and opened the scoring in the 33rd minute as Burgher beat the offside trap to slot home pass STATHS goalkeeper Jaheime Gray.
Gray would pick the ball out of the net again just five minutes later as Lyles easily converted Jabarie Howell’s cross to double JC’s advantage.
There would be no comeback for STATHS in the second half as Dennis’s long-range effort in the 63rd minute put JC three in front.
During JC’s celebrations, STATHS Captain Kevin Hall was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for dissent.
Burgher continued JC’s dominance as he beat the offside trap for the second time to make it four and seal the win.
