Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
In a battle of the number elevens, Meadowbrook's captain, Dwayne Smith (right), eludes the challenge of Kingston College's Duane Weise during their ISSA Pepsi/JN Manning Cup game at the Meadowbrook playing field yesterday. Looking on is Kingston College's Ian Aarons. The game ended 0-0. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
MEADOWBROOK AND Kingston College weren't helped in their bid to get out of the ISSA Pepsi/JN Manning Cup first round when the two played to a 0-0 draw at the Meadowbrook playing field yesterday.
Kingston College, should have run-away winners but they failed to shoot well in front of goal.
To make matters worse for the 'Purples', Meadowbrook's Carl Spence proved a hero as he foiled KC time and time again.
In the first half, Spence was in the wars early. Within the first seven minutes, Kingston College had already racked up two clear chances, both of which Spence turned up big to block.
In truth though, those two chances should have had nothing to do with the 'keeper who was stranded in a one-on-one situation within 12 yards of goal on both occasions.
With seven minutes showing on the clock in the first half, Meadowbrook finally came into their own.
They created a fine chance from a 25-yard Dwayne Smith free-kick that rocketed off Shane Earlington in goal and off the crossbar.
Meadowbrook seemed to grow in confidence with each moment that the visitors failed to put them to the sword and the game set up a dramatic second half.
Spence was again a hero as he stopped scoring opportunities for Ian Aarons and Oliver Blake.
Spence shone in the final 10 minutes of the game when the intensity and pace of the fixture increased noticeably.
In stark contrast during those last ten minutes, Smith, a Jamaica national Under-17 player, failed to make his quality count.
While he was all over the park and was the best Meadowbrook outfield player by leaps and bounds, his decision making when his team was in front of goal was woeful. Smith's decision to shoot from anywhere and everywhere whenever his team countered was costly, as he failed to get his strikers involved.
"If you don't score, the game amounts to nothing. I don't know what's going on. The majority of our practices take place in front of goal," said Kingston College coach Trevor 'Jumpy' Harris after a game that his team should have won.
Meadowbrook coach Paul Elliot chalked up his team's performance to internal strife.
"There is a little turmoil in the team right now and we are trying to work it out," said Elliot.
