St Jago High closed out the first round of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/LIME Manning Cup Football competition on a winning note after easing past Penwood High 2-0 in Group F action at Cling Cling Oval yesterday.

The win moved the Monk Street-based school up to 20 points, which could see them advancing as one of the two best third-placed teams.

Penwood’s young outfit would have gained experience from their campaign as they finished pointless at the bottom of the group.

Shaquille Sayers in the 29th minute and substitute Kejon Bonnick in the 73rd got the job done for St Jago in a lukewarm game that offered very little.

St Jago, playing with a second string team, were very easygoing and reluctant to go forward. They eventually did and broke the deadlock when Sayers fired into the roof of the net.

Penwood went down to 10 players when Kevin Lee was shown a straight red card in the 52nd minute after which Bonnick slotted home from inside the 18-yard box.

Winning coach Shavar Thomas told the Jamaica Observer that their approach to the game was “different” because they wanted the players to keep “focused and injury free”, as they have possibly secured a second round berth.

His counterpart Rupert Nicholas stated that they used the campaign as a “rebuilding programme”, and is optimistic that the team will look more compact come next year.

Meanwhile, Denham Town held on to top spot in Group C despite losing 1-2 to Innswood High at Chedwin Park. Both teams finished with 21 points with just one goal separating them.

Denham Town, as group winners, will be placed in Group J in the second round alongside Jamaica College, Holy Trinity and either Excelsior or Vauxhall High.

Innswood as runners-up are now placed in Group I alongside Charlie Smith, Norman Manley and a best third-placed team which could very well be St Jago.

St Mary’s College battled to a 1-1 draw with Edith Dalton James and secured third spot with 13 points ahead of Tivoli Gardens with 13 following their 1-0 win over Ardenne High with 11 points. Edith Dalton James finished at the bottom with four points.

In the lone game in Group B, Cumberland High registered a 2-1 victory over Mona High to finish fourth on seven points. The winless Mona ended with one point from their eight games.

Yesterday’s results

Group B

Cumberland 2, Mona High 1

Group C

Edith Dalton James 1, St Mary’s College 1

Innswood High 2, Denham Town 1

Tivoli Gardens 1, Ardenne 0

Group F

Penwood High 0, St Jago 2

Calabar 3, Eltham 0

St Catherine 1, Hydel 4

Today’s games

Group A

Kingston College vs Waterford

Jose Marti vs St George’s College

Group B

Charlie Smith vs Vauxhall

Group D

Haile Selassie vs Camperdown

Bridgeport vs Papine

Greater Portmore vs Dunoon

Group E

Holy Trinity vs Clan Carthy

Trench Town vs Wolmer’s Boys

Group G

Jamaica College vs Kingston Technical

STATHS vs Norman Manley