A second-half strike from playmaker Dean Phillips led Norman Manley to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Excelsior in the second round ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup Group Three fixture at the Constant Spring playing field yesterday.

The win puts the Maxfield Avenue-based team in pole position with six points from two matches, while Excelsior are second with three.

In the early Group Three kick-off, Jason Wright scored in the first minute of the second half and the last minute of normal time to spur Wolmer’s Boys to a 2-0 blanking of Tivoli Gardens.

In a low-tempo first half, Wolmer’s remained slightly the more positive despite lacking proper execution in the attacking third.

However, the game sprung to life in the 46th minute when Wright pounced on a rebound from a goal-line clearance to power past Tivoli’s custodian Jazeel McBridge.

Wolmer’s kept up the pressure and doubled their advantage in the 90th minute when Wright turned and fired a grounder into the net after Desmond Campbell had sparked a decisive attack down the left side of Tivoli’s defence.

Wolmer’s now join Excelsior on three points, while Tivoli Gardens remain rooted at the bottom without a point.

In the feature match of the double-header, Norman Manley and Excelsior played out a cautious first half as both teams seemed determined not to lose.

Six minutes into the second half, Phillips put Norman Manley ahead when his deflected free-kick from 25 yards looped beyond Excelsior’s goalkeeper Jonah Morgan.

An untidy episode of football followed for the remainder of the match as the Mountain View-based school attempted to breach Norman Manley’s defence with numerous, wasted long balls. In the end, Norman Manley easily held on to virtually secure their spot in the semi-finals.

In the second stage of the Manning Cup, the three group winners, along with the best second-placed team, will progress to the semi-final.

The last round of matches in all three groups will be played on Tuesday at venues to be announced.