Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

Second half goals from Jyvanni Hayles and Marlon Abraham carried Tivoli Gardens to an exciting 2-0 victory over Innswood in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup match at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex yesterday.

In the day's other games, Camperdown defeated Denham Town 2-0, Charlie Smith beat Ascot 1-0, Waterford stopped Jago 3-1 and the match between Jamaica College and St. Mary's College was rained out.

Poor finishing

Tivoli Gardens dominated the first half but were let down by poor finishing from strikers Trydon White, Abraham and Peter Morris who all missed goal-mouth opportunities.

Sheldon McKay got the best scoring chance for Innswood but his 25-yard free-kick shaved the crossbar on the stroke of half-time.

Two minutes after half-time, Hayles gave Tivoli the lead when he ran onto a through past from White to fire past goalkeeper Dondre Monteque.

A few moments later, a 30-yard free-kick by Bryan Sweeny was spectacularly saved by goalkeeper Regis Bell who dived full stretch to his left.

Abraham then made the points safe for Tivoli Gardens in the 88th minute when he pounced on a loose ball inside the 18-yard box and calmly slotted past Monteque.

Scrappy game

Dave Clarke, coach of Tivoli, said: "The game was a bit scrappy, but I think that we have been showing some improvements slowly.

"I do hope that having played this game against one of the lesser teams in the competition I think it's good for us and I am hoping that we can build based on what is happening for us."

Milford Thomas, Innswood's coach, said: "We came here hoping to win the game. However, during the progression of the game we started to make some simple mistakes and when you make these mistakes a team like Tivoli will punish you."

Group B

Kingston vs Mona

Donald Quarrie vs KC

Jose Marti vs Eltham

Group C

St. Catherine vs Campion

KTHS vs Wolmer's

M'brook vs Edith Dalton

Group D

B'port vs St. George's

N Manley vs Haile Selassie

Penwood vs Ardenne

Group F

Vauxhall vs Cumberland

STATHS vs Excelsior

Trench Town vs J Grant

Today's matches

Home teams are named first. All matches are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.