Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter

With only the top two teams in each of the seven Manning Cup groups guaranteed places in the second round, Kingston College opened up some daylight between themselves and St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) after defeating them 2-0 in their Group G ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup match yesterday at Bumper Hall.

The 14-time Manning Cup winners, who are searching for their first hold on the title in 26 years, got their goals by way of strikes from Chevaun Blake (6th minute) and Jahvaugh Samuels (83rd minute).

In the group's other match played yesterday, leaders Charlie Smith defeated Pembroke Hall 4-0 to progress to a perfect 12 points from four games.

KC second in group

KC, who entered their game only a point ahead of STATHS, occupy second in the six-team group with nine points, while STATHS are third on five points by virtue of a superior goal difference over Ardenne (five points). Pembroke Hall are fifth with two points while Meadowbrook are yet to get off the mark.

"I am a bit comfortable, but we still have another round and this St Andrew Technical team seems to be one that can be a bother," KC's coach Donovan Hayles said. "Two teams advance and Charlie Smith are going to be very difficult for the other teams to beat, so we have to make sure that we put away the other teams that are behind us and take care of Charlie Smith when we play them next," he added.

STATHS, the 1987 Manning Cup winners, got off to the worst possible start, as they conceded a very soft goal from the first set play of the game in the sixth minute. A tame free kick by Blake from close to the left touch line went through a crowd of players and past keeper Francois Regis.

KC had the better of play for the majority of the first half and should have established a 2-0 lead three minutes before the interval when Owane Stone had an empty goal to fire into from four yards out, but sent his shot sailing high.

STATHS looked a better unit in the second half and came close to scoring in the 49th minute when Denton Henry beautifully turned his marker before getting off an 18-yard drive which KC's custodian Obrian Duncan acrobatically tipped around his post.

KC made all three points safe in the 83rd minute when 51st-minute substitute Samuel, the shortest player on the pitch, rose above everyone to head in a right sided corner delivered by Shamala Ashman.

"I am disappointed that we did not get even a point from the game, but I am pleased with some of the performances," STATHS coach Donald Stewart shared. "We made two mistakes and it cost us the game, but it is football and you are going to make mistakes," he added.

Yesterday's results

Group A

Penwood 6 Campion 0

Greater Portmore 1 Excelsior 0

Group D

Innswood 1 Calabar 0

Bridgeport 3 Tivoli 0

Haile Selassie 1 St Mary's College 1

Group F

Wolmer's Boys 2 Oberlin 0

Donald Quarrie 1 Kingston Technical 0

Jose Marti 5 St Andrew College 0

Group G

STATHS 0 Kingston College 2

Pembroke Hall 0 Charlie Smith 4

Today's games:

Group B

Camperdown vs St Jago

Jamaica College vs Waterford

Group C

Denham Town vs Dunoon

St George's vs Cumberland

Hydel vs Clan Carthy

Group E

Trench Town vs St Catherine

Spanish Town vs Jonathan Grant