ST George’s College registered their third consecutive victory in the ISSA/Flow Manning Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win over Ardenne High at Winchester Park yesterday.

Dominic James netted a double in the 56th and 68th minutes, while Alex Marshall scored a beautiful solo effort in the 76th minute, as the ‘Light Blues’ consolidated their position atop Group C with nine points.

Ardenne High, who were losing their second match from three games, remained on three points in fourth spot in Group C. Innswood High joined STGC on nine points after clipping Eltham High 2-1, while Denham Town defeated Kingston Technical 4-1 and moved to six points.

St George’s College, who reverted to their more familiar light blue and white with a touch of red, saw head coach Neville Bell bring in Jerome Coombs for the injured Gregory Messam Jnr up front to partner Captain Shevon Stewart.

National Under-17 midfielders Alex Marshall and Hakim Williams, along with the imposing Dominic James and Stephan Gilzene, dominated Ardenne from start to finish and should have won by a wider margin.

Playing in front of a packed Winchester Park, St George’s College should have taken an early lead in the eighth minute after Marshall cut inside the last defender but saw his shot charged down by goalkeeper Kalvin Brown.

Then seven minutes later, Stewart eluded his marker and fired inches over the crossbar. Coombs then saw his close-range shot brilliantly saved by the outstanding Brown in goal in the 29th minute. Coombs again missed the chance to break the deadlock, lobbing high after Brown spilled a cross into his path in the 31st minute. Two minutes later, Hakim Williams kicked straight at goalkeeper Brown from point-blank range as the half ended 0-0.

But the Manning Cup title favourites would eventually find the breakthrough as James fired home from just outside the box in the 56th minute.

Surprisingly, Ardenne in one of their few forays forward, should have equalised immediately but Ronaldo Howard miskicked with goalkeeper Cyle Elliott well advanced and out of position.

In the 67th minute, the outstanding Marshall lobbed the onrushing Brown and the crossbar before returning a minute later to earn a penalty after being bundled over in the box.

James, formerly of Jamaica College, easily converted in the 68th minute for his and St George’s second goal. Marshall would eventually get on the scoresheet with a fine solo effort in the 76th minute.