HAILE Selassie got their 2015 Manning Cup campaign rolling with a 4-0 beating of Cumberland High at Cling Cling Oval on Thursday.

It was a satisfying result for coach Michael Williams after Haile Selassie had suffered an opening season 0-1 loss to Dunoon. “Today our approach was more positive, cohesive and composed as against Dunoon,” Williams said.

His opposite number Wayne Fraser was uncritical of Cumberland saying: “Considering the circumstances that caused us to lose our opening game to Papine in the boardroom from an off the field incident, my team who seemed to play with butterflies in their stomach played very well. Under different circumstances this team would have performed much better despite the eldest at-16-years old is eligible to play at the Under-16 level for another season.”

Haile Selassie, who reached the knockout stages last season, looked the more settled team from the opening whistle, took the first shots at goal and it was little wonder they drew first blood through Ricardo Phillips in the 35th minute to go to the break leading 1-0.

Marvin Emmanuel gave Haile Selassie a 2-0 cushion in minute 55. Junior Williams then beat his own goalkeeper Shemar Earle with spliced kick from a goalmouth mix-up, while Phillips scored his second from the spot to condemn Cumberland to their second defeat of the campaign.