CALABAR chances of qualifying for the second round of the ISSA Digicel/Pepsi Manning Cup was severly dented yesterday following their 2-2 draw with Group C leaders Excelsior High at Mountain View Avenue.

Kevaughn Atkinson gave the visitors an early lead, but two Neco Brett penalties put the visitors in front early after the break. However, an 87th-minute goal from Wilbourne Williams earned the Alrick Clarke-coached team a share of the points.

Excelsior’s Leebert Halliman was satisfied with the result as he felt both teams gave their best under the circumstances: “I think the compact season has taken its toll; both teams are very tired, but the players came and gave their best and I thought it was a fair result,” he said.

His counterpart Alrick Clarke said his players played their hearts out, but noted that Excelsior defended well. “The two penalties knocked us hard,” he stated.

The result means Calabar have slipped to third behind Excelsior (26 points) and Charlie Smith, who moved to 25 after Kemar Brown scored a hat-trick in an 8-0 hammering of pointless Papine.

With just a game remaining for each team, Clarke added that “it’s out of our hands now; we’ll now have to rely on the other teams, because we definitely had to win this game”.

Atkinson put Calabar ahead from a free-kick after only six minutes of play. However, Brett restored parity for the hosts in the 39th after a handled ball was called against Calabar.

Ten minutes into the second half, another hand ball inside the box gave Brett another chance, and he made no mistake, giving Excelsior a 2-1 lead.

But C’Bar came storming back in the closing stages and Williams volleyed home Ariel Barrett’s corner to earn his team a draw

In Group A, leaders Jamaica College (22) beat third-placed Camperdown (12) 3-0 and second-placed Waterford (19) stopped St Mary’s College 3-1 to cement the top two spot in the group.

In the other game, Oberlin defeated Cumberland 5-2.

In Group B, Bridgeport slammed Jose Marti 6-2 to finish runaway winners with 23 points. Tivoli (17) are almost assured of second spot despite drawing 1-1 with Vauxhall, while Dunoon and Ascot ended 0-0.

In Group D, St Andrew Technical and Penwood kept their hopes alive after victories. STATHS whipped Pembroke Hall 4-0 to move three points off leaders Norman Manley (29).

Penwood edged Mona 2-1 to sit a point behind STATHS with two games to spare, compare to the latter’s lone match — a rescheduled game between both schools.

In Group E, St Jago clipped Spanish Town 1-0 to keep their slim hopes alive, while Ardenne defeated Donald Quarrie 3-1.

In Group F, Eltham scored their 10th win, 1-0 win over Hydel thanks to Ramiz Gordon’s strike. Eltham, with 30 points, lead Kingston College –who beat Jonathan Grant 2-0 — by 10.

In the group’s other game, Campion College edged St Catherine 1-0.