By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer 
Spanish Town's Valentine Gardener (#4) scores of one five goals for his team to defeat Haile Selassie 6-2 at Tinson Pen yesterday. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer
LAST YEAR'S beaten finalists, Spanish Town, and Excelsior became the latest teams to book their second-round spots in the 2002 Pepsi/Sports Plus Manning Cup schoolboy football competition following yesterday's round of matches.
Spanish Town, who lost out to Bridgeport in last season's final, crushed a weak and inexperienced Haile Selassie 6-2 at Tinson Pen while Excelsior qualified without kicking a ball after Ascot went down 3-1 to Ardenne at Ardenne Road.
Both teams now join early qualifiers Jamaica College (Group B), Bridgeport (Group C), Kingston College and Jonathan Grant (Group D), Dunoon Technical (Group E) and Charlie Smith (Group F).
Meanwhile, two home teams, Calabar and Greater Portmore, turned up late for their games against Holy Trinity and Wolmer's respectively.
At Tinson Pen, a five-timer from forward Valentine Gardener (54th, 66th, 88th, 89th and 90th minute) and a goal from Odeane Carby (20th) led Spanish Town to their comfortable win over Haile Selassie.
It was all Spanish Town way for the first seven minutes, but a mistake by the Spanish Town defenders changed the game in one minute. Trace Hutchinson stunned the small crowd when he broke loose from midfield and, with two defenders challenging him, was able to control before firing past Domain Grrrick in goal.
Despite that, Spanish Town were still able to dominate the half with passes in and around the midfield area, but without success. They were made to wait until the 20th minute and a mix-up between 'keeper Kemar Mouroe and his defenders.
Ravi Bonnick, playing a workman-like role in midfield, shot a low cross from the left which Carby, waiting in the six-yard box, made no mistake with to put his team on level terms and that was the scoreline at the half.
Again, the visitors dominated the second half, however this time there was more luck as Gardener, who made team history last year by becoming the first Spanish Town player to score five goals in a match.
Using a midfielder to keep and the 'keeper to play forward, Haile Selassie's plan failed miserably as Gardener made a mess of the makeshift goalie scoring all five goals in the second half. Rohan Reid (75th minute) struck Selassie's other goal.
Spanish Town's coach, Anthony Thompson, said despite a disappointing first half, he was happy with his team's performance.
"Haile Selassie played mostly on the flanks in the first half but they weren't able to do that in the second with the changes we made," Thompson said.
"At halftime I told my team to play inside and wide so we could stretch their defence. They (Haile Selassie) played five at the back so in the second half we pushed one of our defensive player in midfield and we outnumbered them at that point," Thompson said.
YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
Haile Selassie 2 Spanish Town 6, Jamaica College 4 Clan Carthy 0, Ardenne 3 Ascot 1, Donald Quarrie 2 Innswood 2.
