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• Purple reign: Kingston College clinch 17th Manning Cup title in centennial celebration year

  As the historic walls of Kingston College gear up to mark their centenary in April 2025, the North Street powerhouse added another glittering chapter to their storied legacy when they clinched their 17th ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup title with a commanding 3-1 victory over first-time finalists St Catherine High at the National Stadium on Friday.

  Goals from 15-year-old sensation Jaeshawn Edwards (36th), Demario Dailey (45+1), and Deshawn Byfield (54th) ensured that Kingston College reclaimed the crown they last held in 2021.

  A 61st-minute own goal by Byfield served as a consolation for St Catherine, who nonetheless earned plaudits for their spirited debut appearance in the final.

  The win was especially meaningful for Head coach Vassell Reynolds, who etched his name into an elite group of coaches to have won both the daCosta Cup and the Manning Cup.

  

  A subdued Reynolds said achieving the milestone with a school so rich in history and tradition is something he will always cherish.

  “It is great to be among Frank Brown and Jackie Walters to have won the daCosta Cup and Manning Cup; it is something that I have dreamed of, and I am very proud of it, but it is all praise to the boys. Another good thing is that April will catch us with the trophy in our cabinet, so at least we will have it to celebrate with, and this is what we wanted to cap it off, so I am very proud,” Reynolds said in a post-game interview.

  Kingston College began with intent, fashioning the game’s first real chance in the 11th minute when Dailey’s left-footed strike was comfortably saved by Omarion Brown in goal for St Catherine.

  St Catherine showed glimpses of their attacking potential in the 27th minute when Lavaughn Taylor’s shot was blocked by Kingston College’s Kvist Paul in a play that sparked cheers from the crowd.

  From there, both teams rode their respective wave of momentum and displayed attacking promise but struggled to find decisive finishes early on.

  

  It was until six minutes past the half-hour mark that Kingston College broke the deadlock when Damaine Smith’s pinpoint cross found an unmarked Edwards, whose composed header nestled into the back of the net.

  Kingston College pressed the ascendancy from there and again went close in the 41st through Dailey, whose left-footed effort was charged down by St Catherine’s defender Romaine Walters. Smith served up another weighted cross from the resulting corner, but Paul’s free header sailed over the crossbar.

  They inevitably doubled the lead just before the break, as Dailey finished with aplomb from the centre of the 18-yard box after Byfield provided a perfectly weighted pass, following a parried effort from Brown to Matrim Martin’s initial shot.

  With a 2-0 advantage at half-time, Kingston College were always poised for glory, and they extended their lead in the 54th minute when Dailey turned provider, delivering a cross that Byfield calmly finished for his 22nd goal of the season.

  St Catherine, determined not to go down without a fight, pulled one back in the 61st minute. Dwight Gentles’ curling corner caused problems for Byfield, who inadvertently headed the ball into his own net.

  Despite this mishap, the ‘Purples’ held their composure for the remainder of the contest as they defended stoutly while also reminding St Catherine of their attacking threat, though they failed in the probe to add to their tally.

  

  Reynolds pointed out that the victory symbolizes the enduring spirit and excellence of their football programme.

  “This one is special. We’re not just playing for ourselves; we’re playing for generations of KC men and the rich legacy they’ve built,” he noted.

  “We know that they (St Catherine) were very strong in midfield, so we had to crowd them out in there. So it was a different formation when we had the ball, and a different formation when we were out of possession. I thought the boys stuck to that very well, so it was a well-executed plan, and you don’t want it any better than that,” Reynolds said.

  Meanwhile, for St Catherine’s assistant coach, Donovan Lofters, the result marked the end of an impressive journey, as he believes their spirited campaign is a foundation to build upon in the coming years.

  “It means a lot to us... we are in the party, as I said, because we are here at the end, so there is nothing for us to be ashamed of. We showed some character after going down 3-0 and we came back and we fought. First time in the final and some of the guys were a bit nervous but I think we did well,” Lofters said.

• Iraola failing to trust Bournemouth’s recent ‘momentum’ and ‘confidence’

  Andoni Iraola said he does not believe in “momentum” and “confidence” in the Premier League despite Bournemouth moving into the top half of the table after their win over Tottenham.

  The Cherries earned an impressive victory over Spurs on Thursday, with Dean Huijsen’s first-half header the difference on the south coast to pile more misery on Ange Postecoglou.

  Bournemouth have now won successive Premier League games for the first time since April, but are on the road this weekend as they take on winless Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Sunday.

  Iraola’s side find themselves just a point adrift of the European places after 14 games of their campaign, but the Bournemouth boss was quick to temper expectations at this early stage.

  "I don't trust too much in this momentum and confidence thing. The league is so tight. The levels are so small, from a win to a loss, so we have to reset,” Iraola said.

  “We have a difficult game away at Ipswich with just two days of recovery. We cannot continue thinking of the standings or of the points, just competing every game. For me, the end of the season is too far away. We cannot look much further.

  "We will have to show it [that they are better than last season]. If we finish with better than 48 points, then we will be. If not, then maybe not. We really don't know. We are having great nights this season, especially at home against difficult opposition, and we are getting the points.”

  Ipswich, meanwhile, remain in search of that illusive first victory after falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

  The Tractor Boys also face a difficult task this weekend against a side they have not beaten in their last six league meetings, though five of those matches have been drawn (L1).

  Kieran McKenna confirmed he would be without Ben Johnson and Kalvin Phillips for the encounter, eluding that changes to his side could be made for the visit of the Cherries.

  "We made some changes on Tuesday night that were necessary. It's not going to be the same XI every game,” McKenna said.

  “On Tuesday you could see the challenge for a couple of our younger players having to play Saturday-Tuesday in the Premier League for the first time.

  "We'd like to have one or two more available to rotate, but in general we've still got a pretty healthy squad."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Ipswich – Liam Delap

  No one has been involved in more goals for Ipswich than Delap (seven) in the Premier League this season, though he has failed to register a goal involvement in his last three games.

  Bournemouth – Justin Kluivert

  While not being able to add to his record-breaking hat-trick against Wolves in midweek against Tottenham, Kluivert will be keen to continue his goal-scoring form away from home.

  He has scored four goals in his last two Premier League games on the road, which is double the amount that he’d netted in his first 21 away from the Vitality Stadium in the competition (two).

  MATCH PREDICTION: BOURNEMOUTH WIN

  This will be the first ever top-flight meeting between Ipswich and Bournemouth, making it the 1,453rd fixture to be played in England’s top division.

  While Bournemouth are favoured by Opta’s data-led simulations, they have won just one of their last 11 away league games against Ipswich (D3 L7), a 2-1 win under Harry Redknapp in March 1988. Their last three league visits to Portman Road have all been draws.

  The Cherries have also lost two of their last three Premier League meetings with promoted sides (W1), as many as they had in their previous 15 such matches (W8 D5).

  Ipswich, meanwhile, remain without a win in any of their seven Premier League home games this season (D4 L3). In their league history, only in 2018-19 have they had a longer run without a home win from the start of a campaign (10).

  The Tractor Boys have kept just one clean sheet in their 14 top-flight games this season. However, having conceded 20 goals in their first nine this term (2.2 per game), they’ve now conceded just five in their last five.

  And Ipswich’s frustration has seemingly shown. They have conceded 180 fouls in their 14 Premier League games so far this season. Their rate of 12.9 fouls per game is currently the highest by a promoted side in a single campaign since Wolves in 2009-10 (13.8).

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Ipswich – 28.6%

  Draw – 24.4%

  Bournemouth – 46.9%

• Maresca warns Chelsea against complacency ahead of Tottenham clash

  Enzo Maresca has warned high-flying Chelsea that "things can change quickly in football" ahead of their London derby against Tottenham in the Premier League. 

  Maresca's side are second in the standings with 28 points from 14 matches and are unbeaten in their last six, trailing leaders Liverpool by seven points. 

  Arsenal also have 28 points, but sit third on goal difference, while champions Manchester City are two points behind the Blues in fourth place. 

  But Chelsea's Italian head coach once again refused to count his side as one of the contenders for the Premier League title this season.  

  "I don't think we are there and ready to compete with Arsenal, Liverpool and City. We have to do many more things well, not just score goals," Maresca said. 

  "Defensively, we are doing well, but we are just focused on Sunday and then the next one.

  "We are not thinking about April, May or June. It's too early. Things can change quickly in football. The focus is Sunday."

  The Blues have scored 31 goals this season - the most by a team in the league this season, with Cole Palmer their top scorer with nine goals, followed by Nicolas Jackson, who has struck eight times. 

  They head into the derby on the back of a 5-1 win against Southampton on Wednesday, which was the second time they scored five goals or more in away games this season.

  The last time they did the same, they emerged champions under Jose Mourinho during the 2014-15 season. 

  Meanwhile, their next opponents, Tottenham, were beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth last time out and dropped to 10th place, but Maresca labelled Spurs "a fantastic team." 

  "Spurs have very good players and a very good manager. What kind of problems they have, I don't know. But they are a fantastic team," he said. 

  "You see the results, two weeks ago they beat City, so they are a very good team."

  The 44-year-old also hailed Noni Madueke, who scored his fifth goal of the season against the Saints and has been involved in three goals in two matches, but reiterated that the winger still has scope to improve. 

  "Overall he's working well since we started. Sometimes he drops a little bit. He's not allowed to drop. In terms of numbers, he's doing fantastic with goals and assists," Maresca said.

  "Off the ball, when we ask him to defend and press, he's doing very well. The only reason I said this the other day is that I want the best from Noni and to get the best you have to push him. If he relaxes a little bit, it's wrong."