By LeVaughn Flynn, Staff ReporterA STOPPAGE time goal by Calabar's Adrian Spencer created history for his school as they advanced to the second round of the Manning Cup for the first time in 15 years after a 2-2 draw with St. Catherine High at home.
Both teams were locked on 11 points each heading into the game but Calabar had the edge with a superior goal difference. St. Catherine had already popped the top of the champagne bottle in celebration of advancing after leading 2-1 but Spencer's golden goal, seconds before the referee signalled the game over, crashed the party.
"This is my third goal for the season and the best," Spencer said as schoolmates hounded him.
"We knew we could do it; we trained hard for it and we played them already and we knew their weaknesses and attacked them in the final minutes," he said.
Calabar coach David Hunt was characteristically bottling his glee inside. He praised the attitude and strength of his players and said that the second round was where Calabar would show their worth.
"It was a very trying experience. I must congratulate the St. Catherine team because they fought very hard. My team has been training since April and I'm really proud of them. They have a 'never say die' motto," Hunt said.
"I went to one defender (Nicholas Gordon) in the back and I was never doubtful that we would get a goal. We had a training planned for Saturday so we were prepared and I think that the efforts that we have put in training the past five months will kick-in in the second round," he said.
SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT
St. Catherine led twice through goals from Kemar Bennet (20th) and Shavar Callinder (50th). Jason Stewart drew one back in the 44th minute to give the Calabar fans something to cheer about heading in to the second half. Callinder put St. Catherine back up and just when it seemed they would be meeting defending champs Excelsior on Tuesday, Spencer struck down those dreams down.
Walker Cup action kicks-off today with Mona and Meadowbrook at 1:00 p.m. and Excelsior vs. St. George's College at 3:00 p.m. Tomorrow, Wolmer's play Spanish Town and Camperdown battle Bridgeport at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. respectively. All games will be played at Ferdie Neita Park.
