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‘This is really his team’ - Tivoli Gardens assistant coach hails Francis after 5-0 victory over Tarrant
September 30, 2025
Ryan Francis stamped his influence for Tivoli Gardens High in the ISSA/WATA Manning Cup competition as he bagged all five goals in his team's 5-0 demolition of Tarrant High yesterday in Zone B action at Tarrant High School.
With the game initially set to be played on September 19, Francis had scored two goals before the match was called off in the 37th minute due to inclement weather.
On the resumption yesterday, Francis picked up where he left off as he bagged a further three goals to cap off a five-star performance.
The stand-out striker scored in the 62nd, 69th and 73rd minutes to bring his tally to 10 goals this season.
Lance DaCosta, Tivoli's assistant coach, praised Francis' eye for goal.
"Right now, he is the main person on the team. This is his fifth season, so he's the most mature player. He was on the winning team for the Walker Cup so this is really his team and we're depending on him to score the goals," DaCosta said.
With the match restarting at the 37th minute, Francis would take some time to find his shooting boots but proved a menace to Tarrant's backline throughout the game.
His first goal of the afternoon came just past the hour mark as let through on goal, a last-ditch attempt from Tarrant's goalkeeper to block was not enough to keep him out as he scored from close range.
Francis would come up trumps just seven minutes later, this time showing off his footwork as he danced past his marker before finishing to the right of the flailing Nickel Walker in between the sticks for Tarrant.
He would close off a stellar afternoon with his final goal in the 73rd minute, this time with a well-hit effort from outside the box.
With the win, Tivoli consolidated second position in Zone B with 13 points, just behind leaders Kingston College (KC), with 15 points.
Tarrant, on the other hand, sit sixth with three points and have been eliminated from the competition.
