By Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
STATHS's Wayne Williams climbs high to control the ball between two Edith Dalton-James players during their Manning Cup match at Tinson Pen playing field yesterday. The game ended 0-0.
- IAN ALLEN/Staff Photographer
A 49TH-minute goal by Andre Lee carried home team Campion College to a massive upset victory, 1-0 over title favourites Bridgeport High in yesterday's Group E Pepsi/Sports Plus Manning Cup action.
Campion, the perennial cinderella team, stunned last year's beaten finalist Bridgeport with a winner that came after goalkeeper Kemar Davis failed to hold onto a free-kick from substitute Amari Johnson, allowing Lee, another substitute, to slot home.
Bridgeport, who hammered Campion 8-0 in last year's fixtures, pressured their opponent throughout but just could not score that elusive goal while coming close on several occasions.
OUT OF WORDS
An ecstatic Campion College coach, Brian Phillpott-Brown, was overwhelmed with joy, so much so he was out of words and referred The Gleaner to his assistant, Dr. Andrew Salmon, for an interview.
"It was a difficult game and I am very excited," said Salmon with sweat running down his face as if he had been playing. "The guys stood up well when the pressure came on but we defended our turf," he added.
"It is a good victory, a big morale booster for us," said Salmon, who is also the team's doctor.
Meanwhile Anthony Patrick, the outspoken coach of Bridgeport, said this was a wake-up call for his young team.
"They took the field in the first half and took Campion lightly. I roughed them up for the second half; the 'keeper made a mistake, but that's it."
Patrick, who led Bridgeport to the title in 2001, said he never got much from his senior players.
YOUNGSTER FOUGHT WELL
"The few senior players never lifted their game today, but the youngster fought well," he said.
However, he was gracious in defeat and praised Campion College for the stout-hearted defending that led to their victory.
"I have to lift my hat off to Campion, they played a tactical game."
With only three players from last year's team, Campion defended deep and were contented with counter-attacking, while Bridgeport, with the skilful Kevaughn White and Andre Steele, dominated the middle but could not find that final killer pass.
With time running out in the 88th minute, Bridgeport went close to equalising when Anderson
collected a ball on his chest and hit a ferocious shot that went agonisingly wide of the upright.
That was the last chance as moments later the referee blew the final whistle met with a tumultuous uproar from the Campion College students, who stormed onto the field to greet their heroes.
