Bridgeport, STATHS clash in feature

Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

The battle for Corporate Area schoolboy football's major prize, the Inter-Secondary Schools Association /Pepsi/-Digicel Manning Cup, resumes today with a double header at Spanish Town Prison Oval.

Defending champions Bridgeport High will face St. Andrew Technical (STATHS) at 3:30p.m. in the day's feature, while Waterford and Eltham will clash in the opening second-round fixture at 1:30p.m.

Bridgeport were beaten by Calabar in the semi-finals of the Walker Cup competition. However, Coach Anthony Patrick believes his team has learnt from its mistakes.

"I have to be very confident because my team is preparing in a good mood at the moment," said Patrick. "We were a bit disappointed when we lost out in the Walker Cup semi-finals, but we know that we have to continue to work hard to make sure we defend our Manning Cup title."

"We are going out to play attacking football and make sure that we collect all three points because this is the most important thing."

The Portmore-based school's strikes force will be led by two of the league's leading marksmen in Andre Clennon and Darren Mattocks.

Clennon has so far netted 10 goals this season and Mattocks has scored nine. Former national Under-17 players, Andre Steele, and Adrian King, will drop anchor in midfield while defender Theo Brown are expected to keep things tight at the back.

Force to reckon with

On the other hand STATHS, which last won the competition in 1987, have already proven that they are a force to reckon with this season. They went unbeaten throughout the first round, conceding a mere two goals.

Today's match will be the first meeting between the teams this season and STATHS' coach, Keith Nichols, is also quite optimistic.

"I am very confident because after the loss against Calabar in the Walker Cup quarter-finals, which was our first defeat of the season, I think that the boys have now realised the task at hand."

Nichols added: "We have also been training really hard and are now looking forward this game against Bridgeport."

The Spanish Town Road based-team will rely heavily on leading scorer Andrew Christie, midfielders Earl Bennett and Dane Mallet, and defender Shevaughn Charlton.