Hillel move closer to second round

Hillel. Academy took a major step towards qualifying for the second round of the ISSA Manning Cup, after a crucial 3-0 win over St Mary’s College at Constant Spring playing field on Wednesday.

Hillel are now second in Group B with eight points.

Matthew Turner (46th, 90th) and Kidae Pessoa-Pitt (53rd) scored second-half goals to give the Sean Fraser-coached team victory.

“For me, it’s a big win, and my players responded at halftime,” Fraser told STAR Sports.

“We went in 0-0 at halftime, and I told them they (opponents) are going to fight for everything and that we have to outfight them.

“The mentality we have this season is strong. People look at us as uptown boys, but we are more than that; we have heart, and we have determination,” he said.

Of the top five teams in the group, Hillel are the only team with two outstanding games. The others have one game to play, and Fraser said as long as they take care of business, their place in the next phase of the competition will be assured.

“At the start of the game, we were in fifth place. We played one less game, and with this victory we move up to eight points.

“Now we have to see the results of the other teams, which doesn’t really matter because if we win our next two games we are in,” he stated.

In a lacklustre first half, St Mary showed greater initiative but struggled to create openings.

However, immediately after the break, a St Mary defender was penalised for a handball in the box, and Turner fired home the spot kick to put Hillel in front.

Pessoa-Pitt doubled their lead minutes later, stabbing home a low cross from six yards.

Turner put the game to bed with a late strike.

Huge setback

St Mary started the day in third place, and coach Everald Campbell said the defeat was a huge setback to their top-two aspirations.

“It fell apart in the second half because of a lack of concentration and conditioning. In the first minute (second half) we gave away a penalty, and after that we held down our heads and never looked like we could fight back,” he said.

“We were third, but to lose to Hillel means they go ahead of us. We have Clan Clarty to play, and if we win we go to nine points, but I don’t know where nine points will carry us, if it is the best third place (team),” he commented.

Jose Marti took sole leadership of the group after a 6-1 victory over Clan Carty. Previous leaders Innswood High lost 1-0 to Papine High.

Jose Marti lead the group with 10 points, followed by Hillel on eight, and Innswood on seven. St Mary, Penwood and Papine are tied with six points each.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Yesterday’s Results:

Greater Portmore 2 Jonathan Grant 0

Bridgeport 2 Ascot 0

Camperdown 2 Holy Trinity 1

Norman Manley 3 Pembroke Hall 0

Donald Quarrie 1 Ardenne 1

Edith Dalton 3 KTHS 1

Jose Marti 6 Clan Carty 1

Papine High 1 Innswood High 0