STATHS tame Vauxhall in Manning Cup

by

October 01, 2025

Photo

Kimarly Scott (centre) of Excelsior High is tackled by St Jago High’s Jordon Taylor (left) during their ISSA Manning Cup match at the Courtney Walsh Oval yesterday. The game ended 0-0.

In one of the more anticipated clashes in Zone C of the ISSA/WATA Manning Cup competition, St Andrew Technical High (STATHS) handed fast-rising Vauxhall High their first defeat of the season in a 2-1 win yesterday at STATHS' playing field.

STATHS returned to winning ways in the first round of the competition following a scoreless draw against Jamaica College (JC) in their previous outing.

Kennardo Gordon opened the scoring for the home team in the 51st minute before Justin Johnson secured all three points with his strike in the 65th minute.

Jethorn Jones' equaliser in the 56th minute would prove to be a consolation effort for Vauxhall at the end of a tightly-contested affair.

Phillip Williams, head coach of STATHS, praised his players for a 'solid performance' but said their failure to convert several of their chances had made the game closer than it needed to be.

"It was a very solid performance," Williams said. "I think we came up against a good Vauxhall team and we controlled the game and created a number of chances in the first half.

"Unfortunately, we did not convert those chances and that caused the game to be as tight as it was. But we kept our composure and we found two goals in the end."

The first half was a forgettable performance from both teams as the teams spent a lot of time settling into their patterns of play and creating several half chances which came to naught.

STATHS, however, were fast out the gate in the second half as they found the opener just six minutes after the restart when Gordon scored.

Their lead would last only five minutes as a goalkeeping error opened the door for Vauxhall to pull level.

A free kick effort from Jones should have been a routine save for STATHS goalkeeper Jaheime Gray but it all went wrong as the ball bobbled between his legs and rolled into the net.

Johnson restored STATHS' lead soon after. A corner was first headed onto the bar by defender Keeno Levy, before a follow-up effort was pushed off the line by goalkeeper Coke.

However, his parry would only go as far as Johnson who made no mistake from close range.

The win sees STATHS move into second place in Zone C with 16 points, tied with group leaders JC who hold the advantage with a better goal difference.

Vauxhall, on the other hand, now sit third in the group with 15 points.

Also in Zone C action, JC ran riot over Spanish Town High in a 17-0 demolition. In Zone A Excelsior and St Jago played out a scoreless draw in a top-of-the-table clash while St George's College (STGC) showed little mercy as they hammered Gaynstead 22-0.