Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

CAMPERDOWN AND Charlie Smith battled their way to a hard-fought 1-1 draw in ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup action at Vauxhall High School yesterday, leaving things very much up for grabs in a tight Group E.

In a three-horse race between Camperdown, Greater Portmore and Charlie Smith, Charlie are still out front with 15 points, but Camperdown (13) and Greater Portmore (11), with a game in hand, are still in contention.

In fact, Greater Portmore could have found themselves atop the standings yesterday but their fixture against Ascot at Ferdie Neita Park had to be called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Jubilant Camperdown spectators celebrated not once but twice, thinking their team which was coming from a goal behind, had snatched late goals through substitute Alexander Williams and again through Vernal Smart. However, the celebrations were premature as Williams' 79th-minute effort was called back for a hand ball, while Smart was deemed to be offside after his 82nd-minute effort was tucked home from close range.

In a tale of two halves, Kemar Douglas put Charlie Smith ahead in the 15th minute after a shocker by Camperdown goalkeeper Mark Brown, who booted a clearance right to the striker's feet. While having missed a one-on-one opportunity minutes before, Douglas easily slotted around Smith to give his team the lead. The striker would however continue to be wasteful with his finishing, missing at least two more clear chances in the half. It was a different Camperdown team which took the pitch for the second period. After five straight passes, Chevaughn Warren blasted just wide of the Charlie Smith goal right on the restart.

Burly front man Rasheed Dwyer found himself with a lot more touches in front of goal and while he did not get enough boot on a 46th-minute effort and also saw a 52nd-minute header go straight to Charlie Smith goalkeeper Dervon Brown. However, three minutes later, his spin-around effort from 12 yards away bounced wide of goalkeeper Dwyer and into the back of the net to level the scores.

Yesterday's results

Group A: Tivoli 1 Waterford 0, St Mary's 1 Innswood 4.

Group C: Calabar 2 KTHS 0, Edith Dalton 0 Wolmer's 4. Group D: Norman Manley 10 Ardenne 0, Dunoon 1 St. George's 5

Group E: Camperdown 1 Charlie Smith 1.