Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

A 77th-minute strike from substitute Yahmone Reid carried hosts Norman Manley to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Penwood in Group A of their ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup encounter at the Maxfield Park Sports Complex yesterday.

In Group C, defending St George's College recorded a come-from-behind 5-1 victory over Denham Town, Hydel hammered Dunoon 8-0 and Cumberland edged Clan Carthy 1-0.

Norman Manley, who were recording their second consecutive win of the season, began the match very tentatively and Penwood took advantage of this, but they failed to get on the scoresheet due to poor finishing as their forwards squandered a number of clear-cut opportunities.

Penwood's Sadekie Osbourne's powerful close-range header was denied by the upright in the 10th minute of the game.

Weak effort

A few minutes later, the lanky but skilful Osbourne came close to giving the visitors the lead, but after collecting a through pass from his captain Romario Williams he sent his weak effort wide after being left with only goalkeeper Mark Allen to beat.

Rohan Foster also came close to putting Penwood ahead on the stroke of half-time but he hit wide.

Norman Manley came out firing in the second half as they rang circles around a very tired-looking Penwood side. They were finally rewarded for their dominance when Reid rose above two Penwood defenders to head home a right-side cross from Leonard Page past custodian Demoy Simms.

"I am not really satisfied, but three points is always important in the competition," said Miguel Coley, coach of Norman Manley. "I think that we have it in us to go all the way in the competition this season."

Coley added: "I think this is a good start for us to the season and once we can make winning a habit, it is going to be good for us."

Rupert Nicholas, coach of Penwood, said: "I think that if we had put away our chances in the first half, then we would have won the game."

Nicholas added: "We just have to go back to the drawing board and prepare ourselves for the next game, and hope that we can get a victory in that game."

• Yesterday's results

Group A

Norman Manley 1 Penwood 0

Group B

Jamaica College 1 Camperdown 0

Waterford 6 Mona 0

Group C

St George's College 5 Denham Town 1

Hydel 8 Dunoon 0

Cumberland 1 Clan Carthy 0

• Today's matches

Group A

Campion College vs Greater Portmore

Group D

Innswood vs Bridgeport

Haile Selassie vs Calabar

St Mary's College vs Tivoli

Group F

Wolmer's vs Donald Quarrie

Jose Mari vs Oberlin

St Andrew College vs Kingston Technical

Group G

Meadowbrook vs STATHS

Pembroke Hall vs Ardenne

Charlie Smith vs Kingston College