Patrick: Midfield battle will be key

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Anthony Patrick, coach of Bridgeport High, said his team will come out firing on all cylinders when they oppose defending champions St George's College in today's final of the ISSA/Digicel/Pepsi Manning Cup final at the National Stadium.

"We are very desperate for this title because we have been knocking at the door for a number of years now," said Patrick. "We lost in the finals in 2003 and 2007, and now that we are back in it I believe it is time for us to win it."

The St Catherine-based Bridgeport are hunting their third Manning Cup title in nine years. They won it in 2001, and 2006. However, they lost in the finals of 2003 and 2007, to Excelsior and Jamaica College, respectively.

Patrick added that they are very confident and raring to go because they have intensified preparations in training and his players have responded. They are now ready to deliver.

"I think my team has a lot of depth because we were one of the best offensive teams in the competition this season," he said. "We also have leading scorer Darren Mattocks and national Under-17 midfielder Jamiel Hardware, who are two of the best offensive players in the league," Patrick said.

Thrilling and rigorous match

Mattocks, who represented Waterhouse in the Digicel Premier League competition last season, has scored 23 of his team's 43 goals this season.

Patrick said he was expecting a thrilling and rigorous match from their opponents, who thrashed Excelsior 3-0 in their semi-final last Saturday.

"It is going to be a tough game because they are a good all-round team. Their strike force of McKaully Tulloch and Marvin Morgan is very dangerous, and they also have good players in the midfield and defence," Patrick said.

He stated that his players are under no pressure to perform and he was very optimistic that they are capable of matching St George's man-to-man in all departments.

"You can expect some good and attacking football from us, and I think if we put away our chances then we should be able to outscore them at the end of the match and win this final," he said.

Bridgeport reached the final by defeating St Andrew Technical High 1-0 in the semi-final last Saturday, and Patrick believes his team is peaking at the right time.

"It is going to take a lot of hard work, discipline and commitment from our players to win, and I believe that once we control the midfield then we should be OK," he said.