Ricardo Makyn

St Georges College's Tori Cunningham (left) tries to keep pace with Wolmer's Boys' Jaheel Hyde during their ISSA/LIME Group H Manning Cup football encounter at the Constant Spring Complex yesterday. Wolmers won 3-0 with Hyde scoring a hat-trick.

SHAYNE FAIRMAN, STAR Writer

Hat-trick hero, Jaheel Hyde's skill, express pace and clinical finishing powered Wolmer's to an emphatic 3-0 victory over St George's College (STGC), and into the semi-finals of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/LIME Manning Cup football competition.

The highly publicised, 'do or die' clash was highlight of a double-header at the Constant Spring football field yesterday.

The impressive Hyde, did most of his damage from the flanks, where he used his speed to good effect.

For the youngster, it was a matter of doing his job and leading from the front, something he was happy to accomplish yesterday.

"It's my job to score goals for the team," said Hyde. "I was happy to lead from the front," he continued.

Constant bother

The international track star netted his first goal in the 36th minute when Delano Brooks failed to clear an awkwardly bouncing ball, which allowed the Wolmer's striker to fire into the back of the net. The 110m hurdles world record holder's pace proved a constant bother for the St George's defence. In minute 45, Javaun Garwood squared the perfectly weighted cross to Hyde, which he fired it into the top right hand corner for the 2-0 advantage.

STGC'S goalkeeper Cordell Irving's time in goal went from bad to worse, as he parried Hyde's 30 -yard free kick into his own net, to round off a miserable afternoon. It was a case of deja vu for the St George's team, which suffered their second 3-0 loss to Wolmer's, after their Lime Super Cup defeat. Hyde's hat-trick moved him to nine goals in all competitions.

Hyde commended what he termed the 'brilliant performance' of his teammates, adding that Wolmer's will be ready for the semi-finals.

Ludlow Bernard, coach of Wolmer's, was left satisfied with the win. "We are happy with the win," he underlined. "I congratulate the whole team because it wasn't easy coming into this game after our loss in the Super Cup," Bernard noted.

STGC's coach, Neville Bell, credited Wolmer's for the victory.

"We take our licks, having lost to Wolmer's," he said. "I believe we started the game really well, but Jaheel Hyde is a wonderful player who made the difference."

In the day's curtain raiser between Calabar and Haille Selassie, both teams ended the competition with a share of the points, courtesy of an exciting 3-3 draw. The scorers for Haile Selassie were Andre Gutzmore (fifth minute), Akeem Grandison (37th) and Hamish Smith (75th).Calabar scorers were: Scott Moody (29th), Mikel Graham (67th) and Lenworth Keckford from the penalty spot in the 74th minute.