By Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter
Constant Spring midfielder Victor Samuels (left) turns away from Downs' Gary McDonald during their Federation Cup second round first leg game at Constant Spring Road on Wednesday. Constant Spring travel to Downs, Manchester with an 11-1 advantage for this afternoon's return leg. - Winston Sill/Staff Photographer
PREMIER LEAGUERS Constant Spring are on the road this afternoon, heading to Downs, Manchester for their return leg of the Federation Cup's second round with a massive 11-1 advantage against their Super League rivals.
Wednesday last 'Spring hammered the Manchester parish side at Constant Spring road and today head to Downs to formalise their advancement to the round of 16 where the top eight Premiership teams will enter the fray.
The Downs-Constant Spring game will be one of eight on today. Also taking a big lead into the round are Premiership teams Wadadah, who beat Black Diamond 6-1 and Rivoli, who outclassed Foster Youths 5-0.
Bull Bay are the only Premier Leaguers not going into the round with a good cushion, a 1-0 lead against Israel.
Constant Spring head Maurice Danny Lyn has not seen the best from his team in the Premier League but got satisfaction from their performance in the first leg of the Federation Cup.
"What I'm pleased about most is the smooth transition from defence to forward," said Lyn of his players.
"They were patient in the middle and opened the defence with more composure than before when we were rushing everything. That's basically what was more impressive to me, the margin of victory and victory overall," he added.
For Constant Spring, Jermaine Richards netted four goals, veteran forward Oneil "Chippy" McDonald three and new boy Carlington Emanuel two.
Added to their clinical finish was what Lyn described as "the camaraderie on the football field".
"Our problem was a division of players on the football field," he pointed out. "We worked in the last couple of weeks to correct put it together. I saw it on the field. People setting up goals, players covering for each other, players moving off the ball and the rhythm."
Downs' Courtney Brown confessed then that his team were no match for Constant Spring.
"I'd say my team is well below the level of the Constant Spring team," he said. "It's the first time any player on this team played against a team at this level."
Barrett said Downs was on the up, having taken just three years to work themselves up from Division Two on to Division One to their current position as a Super League team.
Four days should not be enough to lift Downs to the heights they would need to wipe off a 10-goal deficit and not even Constant Spring's reputation as perhaps the most inconsistent team in the country, will offer them much hope.
At Prison Oval, JDF will have to work hard to keep their 2-1 advantage over Black Lion whereas Santos head to Drax Hall on even terms with Kaiser.
Home advantage should be important to Bull Bay when they host Israel at Harbour View and hat-trick hero Patrick Beech should again spell trouble for Foster Youths when both team meet at STETHS.
Harmony should consolidate their position at Elletson Wakeland as they take a 4-0 lead into that game. So too should Russia, who take a 2-0 lead home against Axum.
TODAY'S GAMES
Black Lion vs JDF at Spanish Town Prison Oval (3:00 p.m.)
Kaiser vs Santos atÞ Drax Hall (3:00 p.m.)
Bull Bay vs Israel at Harbour View at (3:00 p.m.)
Downs vs Constant Spring at Downs (3:00 p.m.)
Harmony vs Central at Elletson Wakeland (3:00 p.m.)
Russia vs Axum at Russia Oval (3:00 p.m.)
Wadadah vs Black Diamond (3:00 p.m.)
Foster Youth vs Rivoli at STETHS (3:00 p.m.)
