Debutants Innswood defeat Penwood
By Charmaine Austin, Staff Reporter

Penwood's captain, Leyton Campbell (left) and Innswood's captain Winston Douglas vie for the ball in their Group B Pepsi-Sports Plus Manning Cup game at Chedwin Park yesterday. Newcomers Innswood won 2-1. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

NEWCOMERS INNSWOOD made a winning start to their Manning Cup football campaign with a 2-1 victory over Penwood in a Group B game at Chedwin Park yesterday.

The win, according to coach Dwight Angus, signalled their seriousness towards the schoolboy football competition.

"We went in a little nervous, not knowing what to expect but the guys showed guts and came out with a win," said Angus. "This is to show that although we are new, we are taking this competition seriously."

Also registering wins yesterday were Excelsior, who through Horace Howell and Ricardo Ximines blanked Ascot 2-0. Holy Trinity stopped Ardenne 1-0 and Jamaica College clipped Donald Quarrie 2-1.

In other games, Clan Carthy and Haile Selassie drew 0-0. Calabar and Greater Portmore played to a 2-2 tie as did St. Catherine and Denham Town.

At Chedwin Park, Innswood were first to score when Sheldon Stevens netted in the seventh minute.

Substitute Kemar Williams, who said after the game that he scored as a birthday gift to the coach, added the second goal in the 17th minute before Penwood's Keniel Fiddler replied five minutes later.

"Our aim was to score as many goals as possible and put ourselves in a comfortable position to win," Angus said. "We got two before they scored and we held on to that advantage. I'm satisfied with the win but there are areas which need improvement. This we hope to achieve with every game."

Losers Penwood are hoping for a positive result when they meet Spanish Town in their second game on Friday.

"We're looking forward to the next match," said coach Dwight James. "This was our first game and it didn't turn out so well but we're hoping to improve in time. What we are going to do is sit down and come up with a plan of action for Spanish Town.

"I'm very disappointed that we lost," he added. "This was because of indiscipline on the part of some of the players.

"The midfielders didn't play as they should and that caused us to concede the second goal."

Published in the Gleaner on September 10, 2002