CALABAR High boosted their chances of advancing to the second round with a crucial injury time 1-0 win over Hydel High in Group F of the ISSA/LIME Manning Cup at the Caymanas Field, yesterday.

Mario Sailsman slotted home for the visiting Calabar in the 90th+3 minutes, moments after Hydel were reduced to 10 men when Brad Tulley picked up a straight red card in the 87th minute for apparently striking a player.

Calabar, who had to win to keep their qualification hopes alive, jumped to 19 points and solidified second spot behind leaders Hydel on 20 points.

More importantly, the Bradley Stewart-coached Calabar are two points ahead of St Jago High on 17 points with only one set of games remaining. On Monday, Calabar are set to host Eltham High, while St Jago travel to pointless Penwood High.

Despite leading the group, Hydel are no longer safe and a defeat at St Catherine could spell disaster not only for the LIME Super Cup, but the Manning Cup as well, where it is now possible for them to finish third.

Winning coach Bradley Stewart was relieved his team pulled it off and set themselves a shot at the second round.

“This is the top of the zone with both teams having similar ambitions, and I thought the Hydel team played well and had us under the eighth ball, but we were able to fight through that and in the end our substitutions did it for us,” said Stewart.

“We came out winners today and I am extremely happy. This has now put us in a better position for the second round,” he noted.

Hydel, who had the ball in the back of the net twice, but were disallowed, had the better of Calabar certainly in the first half and coach Donovan Hayles said they only have themselves to blame and will have to be at their best on Monday against St Catherine.

“Once we win that game no team can catch us, but today we should have wrapped it up. But that is behind us now and we have to look ahead,” said Hayles.

“We went down to 10 at a crucial point in the game and with one man short and with tired legs, it took its toll,” he noted.

Meanwhile, St Jago kept their slim chances alive with a 3-1 win over St Catherine to be in third sport on 17 points. Eltham High secured their second win of the season, beating the pointless Penwood High 2-1 in the other Group F encounter.

In Group B, Vauxhall High whipped Cumberland High 3-1 to consolidate third spot on 14 points, the same as Excelsior, who trounced Mona 4-0 but have completed their fixtures. But with one more game to play against Charlie Smith, at least a draw would be good enough for Vauxhall to advance to the second round ahead of Excelsior.

In a lone Group E encounter that was brought forward, Clan Carthy defeated Spanish Town High 6-3. Both teams are now on seven points behind Wolmer’s Boys with 16 and Holy Trinity on 15 points.

Yesterday’s results

Group B

Vauxhall 3, Cumberland 1

Mona 0, Excelsior 4

Group C

Denham Town 3, Edith Dalton James 2

Ardenne 0, Innswood 1

Group F

St Catherine 1, St Jago 3

Eltham 2, Penwood 1

Hydel 0, Calabar 1