Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Camperdown captain John Ross Edwards celebrates after scoring against Bridgeport in ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup action at the Stadium East field yesterday. The Group One game ended in a 3-3 draw. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

FORMER CHAMPIONS Excel-sior and Bridgeport had to battle fiercely against Jonathan Grant and Camperdown, respectively, for mixed results as the second round of the ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup kicked off at the National Stadium East field yesterday.

While Excelsior held off a late surge by Jonathan Grant to emerge 2-1 victors in the early encounter, Bridgeport had to claw their way to a share of the points in a 3-3 draw against a resilient Camperdown.

In fact, with seconds left to go, the 2001 champions, who were down 3-1 with 20 minutes left in the second half, found themselves staring defeat in the face. The late heroics of striker André Clennon rescued them from what would have been an absolutely disastrous start to the second round.

Third-minute header

Clennon flung himself desperately into a 50-50 ball with Camperdown custodian Omarro Simms, the forward came up limping, but the ball trickled into the back of the net to clinch a draw for the St. Catherine team. Bridgeport had been knocked on the backfoot early by a third- minute header from Ramone Waite.

While they struggled to recover against a Camperdown team which was just about equal in terms of possession, John Ross Edwards dug an even deeper hole with a well-struck free kick. The shot, just outside the 18-yard area, flew over the wall and dipped sharply to the left of Bridgeport keeper Damali Oliver.

André Steele pulled one back for Bridgeport from close range in the 51st minute, but it looked to be lights out when Edwards drifted into the area from out wide to blast past Oliver from close range in the 63rd minute. However, substitute Lorenzo Vidal would net in the 81st minute, before Clennon completed the comeback.

"We are happy for the point but it must be said that our finishing really let us down today," was the assessment of Bridgeport coach Anthony Patrick. For Camperdown, assistant coach Andrew Williams said a share of the points was a disappointing result.

"We are really disappointed with a draw when we looked to have a win, but I think our discipline really broke down today," said Williams, who saw his captain Edwards given a red card with seconds left to go in the game. Both teams, who are in Group One along with Excelsior and Jonathan Grant, will now find themselves in a must-win situation come Saturday.

Broke free

For 2003 and 2004 champions Excelsior, Akeem Nelson put them in the lead from the spot in the 43rd minute and Jermaine Parris looked to have effectively killed the game off when he broke free of his defender and easily dismissed Jonathan Grant goalkeeper Marlon Henry in the 81st minute.

However, after a promising spell of possession and a couple of missed opportunities at both ends, Andrae Campbell would pull one back from the penalty spot for Jonathan Grant in the 88th minute.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Jonathan Grant 1 Excelsior 2

Camperdown 3 Bridgeport 3

TODAY'S GAMES

Waterford vs Norman Manley - 1:00 p.m. at Stadium East. Wolmer's vs Calabar at 3:00 p.m. at Stadium East.