Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
Norman Manley's players chase their teammate, Norman Bailey, after his crucial 86th-minute goal in their ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup semi-final against St. Andrew Technical at the Spring Complex yesterday. Norman Manley won the game 1-0 and have advanced to Saturday's final against Calabar. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
LAST YEAR'S beaten finalists, Calabar, made their way back to the ISSA/Pepsi/Jamaica National Manning Cup's big stage after a 1-0 semi-final victory over St. Catherine at the Spring Complex yesterday.
Calabar benefitted from a fortuitous 29th-minute Kenneil Hyde strike.
After the game, Calabar's David Hunt had high praise for his opponents but said his side could have clinched the game a lot earlier.
"We exploited them in the first half down the flanks and we could have closed out the game, but I must say congratulations to the St. Catherine team. In the second half, St. Catherine came at us and we had to defend," said Hunt.
NOT AT FULL STRENGTH
St. Catherine's coach Michael Small, while admitting that his team played well, said his side was not at full strength.
"We knew that the game against Calabar was going to be a difficult one and we lost two of our most valuable players," explained Small.
The beaten Walker Cup finalists will be joined at the National Stadium on Saturday by Norman Manley who got by St. Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) after an 86th-minute peach from Norman Bailey.
WELL-WEIGHTED SHOT
STATHS, while missing a number of easy opportunities to take the lead against a hard-tackling Norman Manley, really paid the price for indiscipline.
In the 86th minute, the team, looking for their best placing in the Manning Cup since 1987, failed to clear a ball from an attack that they had broken up. With STATHS trying to turn defence into attack, Norman Manley's Rushane Berry intercepted a ball and knocked it back to Bailey. Bailey's well-weighted lobbed shot from 35 yards beat STATHS' goalkeeper Diego Haughton who was caught slightly off his line.
"We knew that we had to pull something exceptional to win today," said Manley's coach Alrick Clarke of the goal that sent his team into the final.
STATHS coach Keith Nichols said the team's woeful finishing was the reason it will not be taking part in the Manning Cup final.
"The forwards got the chances and they didn't put them away," said an obviously perturbed Nichols.
