‘WE’VE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH’
Dark horses Excelsior join perennial contenders JC in Manning Cup final
Published:Wednesday | December 17, 2025 | 12:13 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writers
Jamaica College, preseason favourites, and Excelsior High School, the darkhorses, will contest this season’s ISSA/WATA Manning Cup final after the two enjoyed similarly comfortable wins during yesterday’s semi-finals at the National Stadium.
Excelsior advanced to their first Manning Cup final in 19 years after a convincing 3-1 win over Eltham High while Jamaica College were even more impressive, closing out the double header with a 4-0 win over St Andrew Technical High School.
A double from captain, Terence Williams (50th and 83rd) and one from leading scorer Kimarley Scott (45th) put the Mountain View Avenue-based Excelsior into the decider, which could see them winning their seventh title.
Steven Bull scored Eltham’s consolation in the 70th minute.
JC joined Excelsior courtesy of Duwayne Burgher’s opener in the 31st minute and his eventual brace in the 66th, as well as goals from Jamone Lyle in the 37th, and Jamoy Dennis in the 62nd.
In the opening encounter, Eltham had the first chance of a competitive first half after five minutes, but goalkeeper Jamari Gordon came off his life to deny Bull.
GOOD OPENINGS
Still, it was Excelsior who had the bulk of the chances through Kimarley Scott, who twice tested goalkeeper Nickoy Taylor from good openings in the first 15 minutes.
Scott eventually gave the Mountain View Avenue-based school the lead when he received a perfectly weighted ball over the top from Williams, on a counter, and raced away to slot past Taylor.
Although competitive throughout the half and having their moments, Eltham never really threatened Gordon in goal.
Williams, the Excelsior captain, added to his team’s lead five minutes into the second half, capitalising on a poor defensive clearance and slotting home from 12 yards.
Damarley Williams and Scott then dragged shots wide from the edge of the area as Excelsior looked to extend their lead.
Eltham’s captain, Santana Headley, nearly pulled a goal back in the 59th minute after a slalom through the Excelsior defence, but Gordon was equal to his low, powerful shot.
Moments later, at the other end, Taylor had to go full stretch to deny Kivann Salmon from close rangem while Williams drilled a freekick wide in the 66th minute.
Salmon and then Scott wasted two other good chances to put the game out of reach, and they were made to pay for those misses minutes later as in the 70th minute Bull broke away and slotted past Gordon to halve the score.
However, Williams restored Excelsior’s two-goal cushion with a peach of a strike in the 83rd minute.
Salmon should have put the game to bed in time added, with Taylor at his mercy, but pulled his shot wide of the far upright.
“I must commend the boys,” Excelsior coach Keiron Broderick said.
“We’ve been through so much, and they have done the school and staff really proud. We are going to relax and enjoy the moment and focus on who will come.”
He noted also that the psychological preparation for the game was key.
“When we step away from the performance and look at the preparation for the game, and I am not talking training, the way the boys were focused coming into this game and how early we got to the National Stadium,” he said.
Eltham’s coach, Gregory Allen, despite the loss, said he was happy with the season.
“We tried our best to keep the youngsters motivated. Kudos to Excelsior. I think we played in patches. But kudos to my boys as well. I think we had a good season, and I am just happy for my boys. But some of our keys players didn’t turn up and I think that cost us the game,” he commented.