THE pre-season favourites ISSA/LIME Manning Cup have all turned in commanding second round performances to advance with maximum nine points from their three matches.

Jamaica College (JC) secured their semi-final spot with a 4-0 demolition of Hydel on Friday. Sheldon McKoy turned skilfully away from a defender to drive home from 18-yards to give JC a 17th minute lead.

He returned for a second in the 31st minute got in front of his defender to head the ball in the far corner from close range. Hydel pressed JC for a consolation goal, but the Dark Blues were firm in defence. Junior Flemmings’ long-range effort granted his team a three-goal cushion and Akino Bailey’s stoppage time goal sunk the Hydel ship for good.

St George’s College continued their superb run of form by demolishing Spanish Town High 5-1 to book their semi-final spot. The Light Blues got a flying start when Martin Davis cleverly dribbled through the Spanish Town defence to slot home from close range in the fifth minute.

Shevon Stewart then added a second when he forced a dicey pass out of midfield past the Spanish Town goalkeeper in the 29th minute. Spanish Town gifted the champions a third as, a defensive blunder in the 34th minute allowed Cordell Benbow to tap home from close range.

Benbow returned to add a second later on and Captain Ryan Miller converted from the penalty spot to make their ascendancy clear. Spanish Town’s goal gave little consolation as the champions marched on.

In the other encounter, Camperdown thrashed Calabar 3-0 to finish behind St George’s once more.

Excelsior High defeated Ascot High 3-0 to book their semi-final spot atop Group I on Saturday. The boys from Mountain View needed only a point, but made easy work of a lacking Ascot team.

The dangerous Kareem Banton opened the scoring after just three minutes. His partner in crime, Tevin Jackson, added a second in the 22nd minute. Damani Morais gave Excelsior a three-nil cushion before half-time.

Leebert Haliman admitted his team eased off the accelerator in the second half to cruise home. Walker Cup Champions, Wolmer’s Boys’, stay on course to add the Manning Cup to their collection as they cruised past Holy Trinity 4-1 to book their semi final date with St George’s College.

Jaheel Hyde was again the main perpetrator as he contributed a goal in each half to the cause. Jordan James got in on the act in second half stoppage and Captain Kemo Wallace left his post in defence to complete the scoring.

Jamaica College will have to chance to exact revenge on Excelsior for their Walker Cup defeat when they meet in the first semi-final.

In a repeat of last year’s fixture, Wolmer’s Boys’ will need to get the better of St George’s if they should end the Manning Cup drought at Heroes’ Circle. The Walker Cup champions will be without key player, Jason Greenland, as he picked up a late red card in the Holy Trinity encounter.

There are no favourites for the title at this point as three of the four semifinalists are contenders for the treble with JC out the Walker Cup.

— Mikhail Palmer