A well-taken hat-trick by teenager Cleo Clarke assisted Humble Lion FC to a handsome 6-0 win over already relegated Lime Hall Academy in a lopsided Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League (WNJPL) contest at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday. 

Clarke, a former Garvey Maceo stalwart, struck in the 28th, 43rd and 45th minutes, as his first hat-trick at the senior level laid the platform for the victory, which was completed by Andre Clennon (65th), Tajay McCarthy (84th) and Chandol Anderson (89th).

In truth, the scoreline should have been much wider had Humble Lion's forwards been more composed in the final third, as Lime Hall Academy offered very little resistance defensively and nothing whatsoever on the attacking front.

With the win, the Clarendon-based Humble Lion jumped to 10th on 25 points, while the St Ann-based Lime Hall Academy remain rooted at the foot of the 14-team standing on seven points with their relegation fate already sealed.

Humble Lion's Head coach Linval Wilson, who recently took over from Vassell Reynolds, praised the effort of the younger players in particular.

"We basically played a number of youngsters and I thought we played some quality football this evening, we should have had some more goals but that is a part of the game. We got six and we are grateful. We are really on a rebuilding process, and I have to give credit to the players that were actually there before, they harnessed a lot of young quality players and that's what we really needed at Humble Lion, and I think come next season, we will be competing for the championship," Wilson said in a post-match interview.

Having started purposefully against a lethargic Lime Hall outfit, it was only a matter of time before Humble Lion broke the deadlock, which they did a little before the half-hour mark. Clarke won possession and waltzed his way past the last defender before firing past Jahiem Williams in goal for Lime Hall.

Humble Lion continued to apply pressure and inevitably doubled the lead in the 43rd when Clarke pounced on a loose ball and drove home a left-footer past the hapless Williams, who barely attempted to make a save.

They almost had a third two minutes later, but James Thomas's right-footed effort from outside box off, came back off the upright.

However, Thomas turned provider seconds later, as he played Clarke through and the 19-year-old striker completed his hat-trick when he made space for a left-footer that rolled past Williams, who made a meal of what should have been an easy gather. 

Humble Lion picked up where they left off on the resumption and almost added to their tally 10 minutes in, but Williams produced a rare save when he pushed Fabian Pascoe's effort from a distance unto the crossbar.

Still, Humble Lion found a fourth 10 minutes later through Clennon, who fired home from close range after substitute Kareem Bryan player a pass across the face of goal.

Humble Lion went close in the 75th, but Lime Hall's defenders, with a rare show of defiance, threw their bodies on the line to deny their opponents a fifth at that point.

McCarthy eventually found Humble Lion's fifth when he slipped by defender and calmly slotted home, before Anderson completed the score –which is the hallmark of a popular recreational activity – when he converted from an angle.

Though disappointed, Lime Hall's Head coach Oshane Allen, who suited up for his team, is optimistic that they can end their failed top-flight outing on a high.

"It's another tough loss but we have to just take it as it is. The aim is just to try to get maximum points from the remaining games, even if it is just to finish ahead of Treasure Beach," Allen noted.

It will be an all-Clarendon showdown to decide this year’s ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup champions, as reigning champions Clarendon College and Glenmuir High booked their spot in the final with penalty shootout victories over Garvey Maceo and Dinthill Technical in their respective semi-finals encounter on Saturday.

Clarendon College stopped Garvey Maceo 4-3 on penalties, after they played out a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time at Glenmuir High, to not only extended their unbeaten run, but also remain on course to secure the coveted triple.

Captain Malachi Douglas gave Clarendon College a 45+7-minute lead from the penalty spot, but Cleo Clarke (75^th) responded for Garvey Maceo with a penalty conversion of his own to send the game to the dreaded shootout.

There, Douglas, Keheim Dixon, Theon Cupee and Christopher Hull, all converted for Clarendon College, while the Chapelton-based substitute goalkeeper Lydel Rodney, denied Clarke and Omarion O’Brian hit his effort wide.

Meanwhile, Glenmuir defeated Dinthill Technical 4-2 on penalties after they played out a goalless stalemate in their contest at Manchester High.

Glenmuir, like Clarendon College is also on course of the treble, and both will be looking to go a step further when they contest their respective semi-finals of the ISSA Champions Cup all-island knockout tournament against Hydel and Kingston College, on Tuesday.

With that in mind, Clarendon College’s Head coach Lenworth “Teacha” Hyde is not only excited about the prospects, but also focused on keeping his players fit and healthy.

“We have been kicking penalties from about three or four months ago and this goalkeeper [Rodney] saved a lot in training and so we decided to put him in and it paid off,” Hyde said in a post-game interview.

“It will be a good matchup against Glenmuir, they are a ball playing team so I love playing against them, so we just have to go and prepare for that. But Tuesday is another crucial game against Hydel, so we are looking forward to getting the players rested, replenished and ready for Tuesday’s game,” he added.

It was a cagey start to the contest by Clarendon College’s standard, but they gradually came into their own after a brief break to facilitate a kit change.

They went close to break the deal in the 18th when Deandre Gallimore’s header came off the upright, and Christopher Maxwell, in goal for Garvey Maceo, denied Hull on the rebound.

Two minute later Dixon’s shot from close range was kept out by Maxwell’s reflex save diving to his right.

Clarendon College eventually broke the deadlock through Douglas, who picked himself up and converted a penalty for his 16^th goal of the season, after he was felled inside the area.

Garvey Maceo came out probing on the resumption and almost pulled level six minutes in when Clarke’s well-struck left-footed freekick had Roshae Burrell, who started in goal for Clarendon College, beaten but the effort came back off the crossbar.

Clarke was at it again four minutes later, as he charged into the box and drove a right-footer that was kept out by Burrell, who got down well in time at his near post.

Garvey Maceo’s press inevitably saw them back on level terms when Clarke converted from the 12-yard spot, after O’Brian was felled inside the red zone.

Clarke’s 23rd goal of the season injected some tempo in Garvey Maceo’s charge, as they pushed for the winner, while Clarendon College replaced Burrell with Rodney in anticipation of penalties, and they moved proved fruitful.

Garvey Maceo’s Head coach took heart from his team’s campaign.

“We planned for them, and I think we did really well tactically. The team stuck to the task right through and I think this game was fitting of a final. But hats off to coach Lenny and Clarendon College, and congratulations to my boys because when we started the season no one expected us to do so well,” Gordon said.