CHARLIE Smith High came from behind to handily beat hosts Excelsior High 3-1 in the Group B ISSA/LIME Manning Cup match yesterday at the Courtney Walsh Oval on Mountain View Avenue.

Excelsior opened the scoring through Rusheed Anderson in the seventh minute, but Charlie Smith hit back in the first-minute of first half stoppage time when Kimani Arbouine got onto the score sheet.

Bebeto McDonald, Charlie Smith’s top hitman from last season, scrambled home in the 50th minute when he was first to pounce on a loose ball after the Excelsior defence failed to clear a free-kick.

He followed with his second of the afternoon in the 83rd minute from the penalty spot when Chevon Crooks was clumsily brought down inside the 18-yard box.

Charlie Smith moved to nine points after three wins in as many matches, while Excelsior, who slumped to their first defeat of the campaign, stay on four points.

There were security concerns throughout the hard-fought, if not high- quality encounter, as some members of the substantial crowd of spectators encroached the playing field on a few occasions. Fans raced onto the field to celebrate the second-half goals as well as the awarding of the penalty kick to ‘Charlie’.

During these episodes, there was no noticeable police presence around the perimeter of the playing area. ISSA competitions officer George Forbes told the Jamaica Observer that the home team is responsible for security on each match day during the group stage.

The Charlie Smith head coach Jerome Waite praised his team for rebounding after going behind early.

“After conceding, Charlie Smith needed to step up their game, which they did,” he said. Losing coach Lebert Halliman said “giving up a soft goal just before the half-time break took a toll” on his players.

— Sanjay Myers