St George's rebound with big 4-1 win

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September 24, 2016

Photo

Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer An ambulance at the St George's College versus Greater Portmore High School ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup match at Winchester Park yesterday. St George's will have an ambulance in place for all their remaining preliminary round matches.

Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer St George's College (StGC) players celebrating the team's first goal during their ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup clash against Greater Portmore at Winchester Park yesterday. StGC won 4 - 1.

Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer Parents Denese and David James of the late St George's captain Dominic James, at yesterday's match between St George's College and Greater Portmore High School. The match was played at Winchester Park.

St George's College rebounded from the devastating loss of their captain on Tuesday with an emphatic 4-1 win over Bridgeport High in a ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup Group A top of the table clash at Winchester Park yesterday.

Hakim Williams sent the Georgians ahead in the 38th minute with Akeem Robotham (50th), Jevoun McKellar (72nd) and substitute Akiki Jackson in the 90th getting the goals for the winners. Kymani Carless gave Greater Portmore hope in the 57th minute.

It was the home team's first game since their captain, Dominic James, collapsed at the Stadium East field. James pronounced dead at the University Hospital of the West Indies after he was transported there.

The venue was jam-packed with mostly St George's students, teachers and supporters surrounding the field.

Despite the tragic loss, the St George's team re-focused and showed unity on the field for their third win from as many games for the season. The 20-time champions pushed to the top of the group on nine points, ahead of Greater Portmore on seven points.

The visitors were set back when goalkeeper Jamali Brown received a back injury from a collision in the 49th minute and was replaced in goal by Dominic Smith with St George's leading 1-0.

great performance

McKellar, who put his team 3-1 up and also assist in the goal scored by Akeem Robotham was named man-of-the-match for a great performance.

"It was difficult for us to play, but coach (Neville Bell) had been helping us since Dominic's death. He has been like a father to us," McKellar told STAR Sports yesterday.

"First and foremost, thanks to my team-mates for helping me. We will continue to fight as our goal is definitely to win the Manning Cup, especially in memory of Dominic," the midfielder disclosed.

Long-serving St George's College head coach Neville 'Bertis' Bell said the team will do well even without Dominic.

'It was a tough game for us. We were not certain what to expect from ourselves. We did not want anybody to be sorry for us. We want to play," an emotional Bell said.

"Now, it isn't about football, we just want to play. We wanted to do well with Dominic and we still want to do well without Dominic," the veteran schoolboy coach, added.

Greater Portmore's head coach Patrick Lewis said it was a disappointing result for his team.

'Well, basically, it was a major disappointment. We expected at least a point to remain in the lead. But, St George's built on the loss of their captain and was stronger today," Lewis reasoned.

Yesterday's results

Tivoli 1 Excelsior 4

St George's College 4 Greater Portmore 1

Holy Trinity 1 Clan Carthy 0

Vauxhall 1 Eltham 1

Today's games

Kingston College vs Norman Manley

Papine vs Denham Town

St Mary's College vs Ascot

Meadowbrook vs Ardenne

Pembroke Hall vs Jonathan Grant

St Catherine vs Haile Selassie