Tivoli's Dwight Powell (left) launches a vicious tackle on STATHS' Nicholas Salmon during yesterday's Manning Cup action at Railway Oval. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer HIGH-RIDING Charlie Smith Comprehensive continued their impressive record in this year's Pepsi/Sports Plus Manning Cup competition when they scored a convincing 5-2 victory over previously unbeaten St. Jago High at the Prison Oval in Spanish Town yesterday.
Playing their first away game of the season, the unbeaten West Kingston side was expected to get its biggest test of the season as the Spanish Town team had won its first three matches.
The large crowd at the Prison Oval got its money's worth, especially in the first half where five goals were scored. It was Charlie Smith who scored first as national Under-20 player Marcelino Blackburn fired his team in the lead in the ninth minute.
With Charlie Smith still celebrating, the home team drew level one minute later as defender Harold Williams scored from a free kick.
The home team then took the lead in the 23rd minute when the Charlie Smith goalkeeper pushed a ball from a free kick to the feet of Larry Graham who made no mistake from close range.
However, the St. Jago defenders failed to sustain the pressure and Kimberly Campbell in the 42nd minute and Daniel Lee on the stroke of halftime gave their team a 3-2 lead at the break.
Despite being competitive in the second half, the St. Jago team failed to halt the strong running Charlie Smith team as Kevin Rose and Blacburn added two more goals as the former champions ended their first round fixture on a successful note.
Meanwhile, St. Andrew Technical and Tivoli played to a 1-1 draw at Railway Oval.
Substitute Dwight Webb in the 92nd minute gave St. Andrew Technical (STATHS) the lead, but two minutes later Dwight Powell scored to give his team a share of the points.
A happy Tivoli coach, Dave Clarke, said yesterday's game was by far the team's best of the season.
"We have just scored our first goal. We have had problems in the first two games and in the first half here by not scoring from the opportunities we got," Clarke said.
YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
St. George's College 7 Edith Dalton-James 1, Charlie Smith 5 St. Jago 2, Dunoon 4 Tarrant 0, Waterford 4 Kingston High 1, Trench Town 2 Jonathan Grant 1, Tivoli 1 St. Andrew Technical 1, Mona 1 Kingston Technical 1
TODAY'S GAMES
Jonathan Grant vs Cumberland at Spanish Town Prison Oval, Edith Dalton-James vs Trench Town at Duhaney Park, Norman Manley vs STATHS at Tinson Pen, Tarrant vs Tivoli at Tarrant, Kingston Technical vs St. Jago at Clan Carthy playfield, Mona vs Waterford at Mona.
