ANDRE McFarlane’s added time winner against Charlie Smith put Waterford atop Group A as the second round of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup football competition got underway at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

The Lloyd Coke-coached team, with three points, lead the group ahead of Eltham and St Andrew Technical, who played to a 0-0 draw in the day’s other encounter.

The first game was far from entertaining and it was not until near the half-time interval that the teams

came alive.

Marlon Higgins went close to giving Waterford the lead in the 43rd minute, but his blast from inside the box went just past the upright. At the other end, Javoni Simms was played through by Andrew Allen, but he kicked straight to Oshane Jones from 12 yards.

However, the chance of the match fell to Waterford’s captain Roman Daley on the stroke of half-time, but he inexplicably put the ball over the bar from point-blank range after goalkeeper Sulane Powell blocked Higgins’ initial shot.

Charlie Smith had another great chance at the start of the second half, but Lennox Russell hooked his effort wide of the target.

However, with the game heading for a draw McFarlane broke loose on a ball from Theodore Thomas and drove a scorcher past the hapless Powell in Charlie Smith’s goal.

Waterford’s coach Lloyd Coke was happy to start with three points, but was disappointed with his team’s display.

“This is the worst game we have played, so I am grateful we could score and win a game not playing our best. So this should lift us for the next game,” he said.

Charlie Smith’s coach, Jerome Waite, said a lapse in concentration at the back cost his team the points.

“This is a set-back, but there are six more points to get… so we can get back,” he said.

In the other game, Eltham dominated St Andrew Technical for most of the game but neither could break the deadlock.

In a dull first-half, Eltham’s Damion Binns had the only real effort on goal, but his effort was parried wide by Reshawn Dunn in goal.

After the interval both teams had a number of opportunities to snatch the points. Stephen Morant had the best chance of the game, but he lifted his shot over from inside the box after Binns’ bouncing cross eluded the St Andrew defence.

Binns, Eltham’s most threatening player all afternoon, then headed over the bar minutes later, before forcing a diving save from Dwayne Nolan with another header on the hour.

In the 75th minute, the left-footed attacker also had a rasping shot that Nolan had to parry wide.

Chevon Montgomery conjured up St Andrew’s best chances for the match but his volley, after he made space for himself in the area, was too weak to trouble Dunn.

The lanky midfielder then glanced a header just wide late in the match.

Trey Salmon also had a great chance for the Phillip Williams-coached team, but his shot was blocked after he found space inside the box.

Williams said in a game with not much chances they should have made use of theirs.

Eltham’s assistant coach Glenvile Holmes echoed his sentiments, but is confident they can rebound to top the group with seven points.

Meanwhile, Bridgeport High play Jamaica College at 1:00 pm and Kingston College and St George’s College meet in the North Street derby at 3:00 pm at Constant Spring in Group B action today.