Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer1987 CHAMPIONS St. Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) became the fifth team to qualify for the second round of the 2004 Manning Cup behind group leaders Excelsior, Camperdown (Group B), Wolmer's (Group F) and Tivoli (Group C) after registering a 1-0 win over Jamaica College at Tinson Pen yesterday.
Meanwhile, at the National Water Commission (NWC) field in Mona, Mona etched out a 1-0 win over Clan Carthy, closing in on a place in the second round.
MALCOLM SCORES
The goal, which separated the teams at the end of a rather lukewarm game, came from the boot of Jermaine Malcolm who netted six minutes from time. The striker, who missed from inside the box at the start of the second half, made amends with a fine solo run. He collected a throw-in midway in Clan Carthy's half, walked past two defenders, drove into the box, eluded two more, looked up, picked his spot in the far corner and placed the ball effortlessly into the goal.
Not surprisingly, Malcolm's goal was welcomed all around the heavily partisan ground as the spectators had waited a long time for something to cheer. Pots and pot covers rang out around the ground.
Yesterday's victory gave Mona sole leadership of Group E as they now jump to 17 points, three more than Clan Carthy who remain on 14. However, Mona have not yet booked their spot in the second round as 2001 champions Bridgeport, who beat Inswood 3-0, inched up to 13 points. Mona and Clan Carthy both have two games in hand while Bridgeport have three.
"We are looking forward to the second round but most importantly we want to win the group we don't want to be second," said Dwight James, Mona's coach.
"Our aim is to win the zone because we want to qualify for the Walker Cup," he added.
YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
STATHS 1 J.C. 0
Tivoli 2 N. Manley 2
Jose Marti 0 Edith Dalton James 1
Cumberland 1 KTHS 3
Bridgeport 3 Innswood 0
Ardenne 2 Campion 2
