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Chris Bender ... Camperdown's coach. - Gladstone Taylor
Camperdown High coach Christopher Bender says he is pleased with the current position of his team after their 1-0 win against Kingston Technical at Clan Carthy field yesterday.
The east Kingston standard bearers, who have so far had four wins and a draw in five games, are leaders of Group D with 13 points.
They are followed by defending champions Jamaica College (JC), who having recovered from their opening game 1-0 defeat to Camperdown, have rebounded to post four straight wins, and are on 12 points.
The 'Dark Blues' defeated Pembroke Hall 4-1 at Pembroke Hall in one of the group's other games, while in the other, third-placed St Jago swamped Cumberland 7-0.
"If you told us that at the start of the season we would be in this position, we would have accepted it," said Bender, who had Shawn Smith to thank for his team's win.
"We still have a lot of work to do, but at least we have started the journey, and hope is that we can maintain it, win the group, and secure one of the automatic Walker Cup knockout spots," he added.
The Camperdown-Kingston Technical game, which was played on a very bumpy and uneven surface, saw the home team employing defensive tactics in the first half, and despite several attempts by the visitors they could not break through.
The second half saw somewhat of a change in tactic by the home team, which allowed them to create a few chances.
But that change in approach, also meant that gaps were being created in their defence, and in the 75th minute Smith was in right place at the right time to tap home following a goal mouth melee.
"Inexperience is what caused them to score, but otherwise, I am pleased with the way we played," said Kingston Technical coach, Karume Huie.
"Last season we suffered some heavy defeats, and this season we have been improving game by game."
Group B Papine 1 Tivoli 1
Hydel 2 Denham Town 1
Campion 0 Waterford 1
Group D KTHS 0 Camperdown 1
Pembroke Hall 1 JC 4
St Jago 7 Cumberland 0
Group F Penwood 3 Donald Quarrie 2
Kingston College 5 Ardenne 1
Group G St Mary's College 0 B'port 1
Oberlin 0 STATHS 2
Kingston Technical's Shamar Douse (left) clears a goal-bound shot from Camperdown's Shawn Smith (second right) during their ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup clash at Clan Carthy
playing field yesterday. Camperdown won 1-0, courtesy of a goal from Smith in the 75th minute. At right is Kingston Technical's goalkeeper Kevani Lawes. - Gladstone Taylor
