Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
LAST YEAR'S beaten finalists, Calabar High kept a tight reign on leadership of Group 'B' in the ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup first-round after a convincing 7-0 trouncing of Vauxhall at their Red Hills Road address yesterday.
Calabar's victory takes them to 12 points from five games, with their sole blemish coming in a 0-1 loss to Dunoon Technical.
Calabar are chased by Dunoon, who have nine points from three games, while Charlie Smith and Ardenne are joint third on six points.
Charlie have a game in hand though and a healthier goal difference. Tarrant and Vauxhall round out the group with a point each.
In wet soggy conditions, Calabar's unit overpowered Vauxhall, who had made a good fight of the game in the first half to be behind 2-0.
However, the hat-trick of Marlon Smith was not to be denied, as Calabar turned up the ante in the second-half to sink five more nails into the heart of the Vauxhall faithful.
Calabar coach, David Hunt said he was pleased with the way his team adapted to the conditions but warned that they needed to look to the next game immediately.
"It was a hard game. I think the team played well and adjusted to the conditions a little better than Vauxhall did. In the second-half Vauxhall got a little winded and we were able to take advantage of that," he said.
"No game is easy, all teams come to do well so we are preparing for them," he added with particular emphasis on his team's next game against Tarrant.
