A bold double change in the second half by Coach Jerome Waite produced three unanswered goals that carried 10-man Charlie Smith High to a spirited 3-0 win against an obdurate but luckless St Mary’s College in their ISSA/Flow Manning Cup game at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.

Charlie Smith went down to 10 players following an incident just outside the St Mary’s College area in which Zamario Sinclair was red-carded by referee Carvel Banton.

Though playing well without converting the chances created against a fighting St Mary’s College, a dissatisfied Waite first pulled Anthony Scott for Omario Fisher at the beginning of the second half. The move began to look fruitful and five minutes later he introduced Kemar James for Kurt Hibbert.

The game turned on its head as Coach Waite did not have to wait much longer before his tactical move bore fruits, as James put Charlie Smith in the lead from a Ronaldo McDonald pass in minute 56. Not to be outdone, Fisher came forward to make the score 2-0 with a goal in minute 73. With two goals down St Mary’s were not done and continued to offer strong opposition as they went in search of a goal of their own.

However, the Charlie Smith goalkeeper Okieno Mendez was majestic between the upright to lend support to a hard-working defence to keep Charlie Smith High ahead. Seemingly not content with two goals, Charlie Smith, as though the game had just started, produced the third goal of the match.

And, with two minutes of play remaining, McDonald again sent James clear to complete his brace to give Charlie Smith their second win from as many games following their opening 5-0 hammering of Penwood High on the road.

The first half looked very promising for Charlie Smith, but later disintegrated into wasteful, selfish shooting in front of goal that saw St Mary clawing themselves into the game and threatening Charlie Smith with well-aimed shots on goal but for the safe hands of goalkeeper Okeino Mendez.

While the first 30 minutes of the half so belonged to Charlie Smith, St Mary took charge of the final 15 minutes. Even so, Charlie Smith did manage to break out and create two glorious chances that were again spurned. During St Mary’s occupation, Shackeme Miller had Charlie Smith worried by a low pile-driver from distance that just went marginally wide.

Heartened by the productiveness of the second-half changes, Waite said: “It was a well-taken victory. The performance throughout was spirited, but we were not making productive use of chances that were created, hence the change. It is always good to have good replacements. The measure of any team is the strength of its bench.”

In the other Group D encounter, STATHS and Holy Trinity High played to a 0-0 draw.

Meanwhile, defending champions Jamaica College moved into second spot in Group A on four points from two games with a 3-1 win over St Catherine High. Calabar High lead the group on five points from three games after battling to a 1-1 draw with Clan Carthy High.

In Group E, St Jago jumped to the top on six points following their away 4-0 demolition of Bridgeport High. Wolmer’s Boys moved into second, also on six points, after blanking Mona High 2-0. Both Bridgeport an Mona remained on three points in third and fourth spots, respectively.

Many times champions Kingston College playing away from home, clipped Waterford High 1-0 to be in third spot on six points from two games. Camperdown High, who whipped Campion College 3-0, are second also on six points but from three games. The group is led by Jose Marti High on six points from two games with a superior goal difference of plus eight.