Rain halts Walker Cup semis

Another attempt will be made today to complete the semi-finals of the ISSA/Walker Cup KO competition after play was abandoned yesterday because of heavy rain at the Stadium East field.

The opening game between Excelsior High and Kingston College (KC) was in the 65th minute when the referee called off the match. Excelsior were leading KC 1-0, courtesy of Aldeano Walters’ 45th-minute goal.

The game will resume from the 65th minute at 2 p.m. The other semi-final encounter between Jamaica College and Mona High is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m.

The encounter between Excelsior and KC began in difficult conditions because of heavy rain. KC started the match very confidently and created the better scoring opportunities in the early exchanges.

Striker Deshawn Byfield, along with fellow attackers Davion Clarke and Adriel Fisher, all came close to scoring for the North Street-based school.

In fact, Clarke missed a glorious chance to give KC the lead in the 28th minute. He dribbled past two Excelsior defenders inside the 18-yard box but, with the goalkeeper at his mercy, his shot went high over the crossbar.

KC were made to pay for their missed opportunities when Walters gave Excelsior the lead in the 45th minute, rising above goalkeeper Junior Lawman to head home a cross from Damarley Williams.

Excelsior came out in the second half much more aggressively and came close to doubling their lead when Habbie Mohammed’s point-blank shot was saved by Lawman.

The referee then abandoned the game because of heavy rain and poor underfoot conditions.