Howard Walker, Staff ReporterTHE FINAL round of the ISSA Pepsi/Sports Plus Manning Cup quarter-final games are on today with all the teams involved and at the end of the day only four teams will still be in the hunt for the coveted title.
Of the 12 teams in action only two teams, Tivoli High and Meadowbrook, are out of contention as they failed to gain a single point in the second round after losing both matches.
All group matches will be played at the same time at four different venues.
Group leaders Excelsior, Camperdown and St. George's College are in pole position to advance as winners of their respective groups but the permutations are such that all three can be knocked out if the results go against them.
TIVOLI HOPELESS
Defending champions Excelsior lead Group One with six points, three ahead of Wolmer's and Calabar. Excelsior play Wolmer's while Calabar take on the hapless Tivoli.
If Excelsior lose badly, possibilities are they could finish third in the group as both Calabar and Wolmer's can acquire six points and it would be down to goal difference.
However, the Leebert Halliman-coached Excelsior are playing the most consistent football at the moment and should be able to take their place in the semi-final round. Calabar could face the wrath of a Tivoli team which failed to live up to expectations and the competition's leading goalscorer Jermain Allen might want to end on a high note, which would not be good news for Calabar.
Group Two, headed by 1982 champions Camperdown, is wide open as all the teams are in with a chance. Camperdown have four points followed by Mona and Dunoon on three and STATHS on one.
Camperdown travel to Excelsior to take on Dunoon and a win would be good enough to secure a semi-final spot, as seven points would top the group. On the other hand, a victory for Dunoon would eliminate Camperdown and with Mona favoured to get the better of a STATHS team low on morale, Camperdown must win or at least draw to feel safe of advancing as the best second-placed team.
STATHS barely have a chance of advancing as they only have one point. Even if STATHS win, four points might not be enough to advance as the best second-placed team.
Mona, the surprise team and one of the most talented, might find it hard to get by one of the tightest defences in the competition and probably the best goalkeeper in Marvin Mundy.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
Group Three is down to the wire. Leaders and 1992 champions St George's, on four points, tackle second-placed Spanish Town, also on four points, while the inconsistent Bridgeport on two points take on Meadowbrook, the only team without a chance of advancing.
For St. George's and Spanish Town only a win is good enough as Bridgeport should get the better of a Meadowbrook team that has nothing to play for. If Bridgeport win and St George's and Spanish Town draw, the three teams will be on five points and goal average will come into play.
Today will be the most exciting day in the Manning Cup to date and at the end of the day only four teams will have a chance of lifting the coveted Manning Cup, which started in 1914.
