By LeVaughnn Flynn, Staff ReporterTHE EIGHT most successful teams in the 2003 Manning Cup march into the Walker Cup quarter-finals Knock-out competition today and tomorrow at the Ferdie Neita Sports Complex, St. Catherine.
Defending Walker Cup champs Charlie Smith meet the wonder boys of Dunoon in the first game of today's doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. while defending Manning Cup champions Norman Manley and 2001 Walker and Manning Cup champs Bridgeport battle in a top of the table clash at 3:00 p.m.
Group B stablemates Tivoli and Wolmer's kick-off the first of tomorrow's games at 1:00 p.m. and St. Jago face Excelsior in a must-see bout at 3:00 p.m.
BLESSINGS
Charlie Smith must still be counting their blessings. With a 1-1 scoreline and two minutes remaining in the Dunoon and STATHS rescheduled game on Tuesday at Tinson Pen, Dunoon pulled off an impressive come-from-behind victory to score a decisive goal in added time to advance, and by extension promote Charlie Smith to the Walker Cup and the second round of the Manning Cup.
If the game had ended with an even scoreline, Dunoon and STATHS would have advanced ahead of Charlie Smith.
Credit must be given to Charlie Smith for their unmatched goal difference (24) which helped secure their spot in the Walker Cup. Although Charlie Smith lost both first-round match-ups to Dunoon, (2-0, 1-0), the Jerome Waite-coached team is capable of dishing out some serious beatings and is expected to come out strong today and perform with a sense of urgency, considering the fortune that took them to this stage.
"We have to give thanks for the opportunity to still be in this competition. It gave us a next chance because that game could have been drawn. Despite being the defending champions for the Walker Cup, Dunoon have beaten us twice this season, so they are the team to beat ... Charlie Smith are expected at all times to rise to the occasion," Waite said.
Norman Manley's coach, Alrick Clarke, told The Gleaner recently that his dream was to win both the Manning Cup and the Walker Cup this year. However, Clarke has a tough task ahead of him, as his team has seemed unstable this year, particularly when playing against weaker teams. Their opponents this afternoon, Bridgeport, are one of two teams with a perfect win record so far, and for Clarke's desire to come to life, players such as forward Kearn Binns and left wing man Omar Longbridge must use their speed and strength to overwhelm their opponents.
While Clarke remains hopeful of such an enviable achievement, Bridgeport's coach, Anthony Patrick, has lived Clarke's dream by winning the Manning and Walker Cup in 2001. And by all indications Bridgeport are in a good position to repeat their successes.
"Right now the team is very enthused and focused. The team is mentally prepared and once it can concentrate for 90 minutes we'll be successful," Patrick said.
In the first round Group B match-ups between Tivoli and Wolmer's, both games ended in a draw. Tivoli, who have the stronger unit, are favourites to emerge from the encounter.
By having the most points (30), scoring the most goals (38), conceding the least goal (1) and having the Manning Cup's leading scorer, Mark Miller (15), St. Jago have earned the right to be called the best team so far. Many have argued that they were placed in an "easy" zone and that they are yet to be truly challenged, but their coach, Danny Hawthorne, believes his team will maintain its success once it "guards against false securities" and remain true to its game.
"I see (tomorrow's game) as a normal game. We just have to play with enterprise," Hawthorne said.
Their opponents tomorrow, Excelsior, have been a quiet but effective unit with forward Ricardo Ximines and midfielder Anthony Christie holding the fort.
