Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Charlie Smith High rekindled their dwindling Manning Cup chances following an impressive 2-0 win over former Group A leaders Tivoli Gardens High, at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex, yesterday.

The south St Andrew school, like the Reggae Boyz last Saturday needed to win to keep their chance of advancing alive, were led to victory on two second half strikes from Kemar Brown and Javoni Simms, the second of which was a volley to behold.

Victory propelled Charlie Smith to 16 points, three behind Tivoli and four behind group leaders Norman Manley, who, in defeating Tarrant 7-0, became the first team to qualify from the group.

Interesting RACE

With one round of matches to go in the group, the race for second spot is interestingly poised.

Charlie Smith have Tarrant - a team they defeated 16-0 earlier in the season - to play, while Tivoli will have to encounter Spanish Town, a team which beat them in the first of the round.

In other results, Excelsior and St George's College, who had already qualified, defeated Dunoon 4-0 and drew 3-3 with Ardenne, respectively, will meet on Saturday in a gigantic clash to see which team will win the group and gain the automatic quali-fication spot from Group E to the Walker Cup Knockout.

Excelsior lead with 25 points, two ahead of St George's.

Rained out

Elsewhere, the match between qualifiers, Calabar and St Mary's College was abandoned due to heavy rain.

At the Edward Seaga Sports Complex, there was little to talk about in the first half with both Charlie Smith and Tivoli trading attacks to no avail and with little fanfare.

It was, however, a different scenario in the second half as Charlie Smith, seemingly buoyed on by a spirited half-time speech from coach Jerome Waite, came running at Tivoli, who eventually succumbed in the 65th minute via Brown.

A left-footer, Brown curled a free-kick from about 20 yards out on the left and with the Tivoli custodian, Tashmar Green, challenged for size, he could not prevent the ball from scoring as it dipped under the crossbar.

Screaming fans

The second goal, in the meantime, which was scored two minutes from the end, was a spectacular individual effort, where Simms, after controlling a high ball beautifully on the edge of the box, piled a defender twice with his favourite left foot before slamming home the resulting volley past the hapless Green.

The goal brought the house down and had Charlie Smith's relatively large contingent of fans screaming and shouting, knowing that their journey down Spanish Town Road was not in vain.

"Today (yesterday), the team showed character, guts and determination," said Waite. "Tivoli, I thought gave a good account of themselves, but my team was defiant."

Losing coach, Dave Clarke, who was left scratching his head after the encounter, said Charlie Smith did what they needed to do.

"I will not find any excuses," he said. "Charlie came out to win and win. They were the better team today."

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Group A: Tivoli 0 Charlie Smith 2, Spanish Town 2 Campion 1, Norman Manley 7 Tarrant 0

Group E: Excelsior 4 Dunoon 0, St George's 3 Ardenne 3

Group B: St Mary's vs Calabar (DNP)

Today's matches

Group C: JC vs Vauxhall; Wolmer's vs Denham Town; Jonathan Grant vs Mona

Group D: Eltham vs St Jago; José Marti vs Bridgeport; Innswood vs Cumberland.