Ramone McGregor (No.4) celebrates with schoolmates after scoring against Kingston College, during the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup schoolboy football match at North Street yesterday. Norman Manley won 1-0. - Ian Allen/staff Photographer

A 19th-minute strike from Ramone McGregor carried Norman Manley to a 1-0 victory over Kingston College (KC) in Group B of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel schoolboy Manning Cup competition yesterday at North Street.

In the group's other games, Innswood defeated José Marti 2-0 and Ardenne and St Jago played to a 0-0 draw.

Norman Manley now lead the standings with 13 points, ahead of Innswood (nine), St Jago (seven) and KC (six).

Norman Manley have played one game more than those three schools.

In the day's other games, in Group C, Excelsior thrashed Spanish Town 4-0, Calabar edged Cumberland 2-1 and Tarrant beat Campion College 2-0.

In Group F, Eltham stopped Ascot 2-1 and Charlie Smith whipped Kingston Technical 4-0.

At North Street, McGregor gave Norman Manley the lead when he headed home a right-sided cross from captain Dean Phillips past goalkeeper Marc-Anthony Harvey.

Eleven minutes into the second half, the hosts were reduced to 10 players when Shane Hardie was ejected for a vicious tackle on Lamar Thompson.

coach delighted

Miguel Coley, Norman Manley's coach, said he was delighted with the victory.

"I am happy for the victory but our display of football was very poor," said Coley. "This win means a lot for us because KC are now further behind us."

Wayne Fairclough, the coach of KC, said: "It was a disappointing display from us today because I thought that we received all the scoring opportunities and we wasted all of them."