CHAMPIONS Jamaica College justified their status in Group A of the ISSA/Flow Manning Cup with a 4-1 win over Calabar High at Red Hills Road yesterday.

After surrendering the lead twice in a 2-2 score line against the same opponents in their first-leg clash, the Miguel Coley- coached team made amends with a command performance to extend their lead atop the group on 13 points.

Norman Campbell led the scoring with a brace in the 37th and 73rd minutes, with former Charlie Smith standout Chevon Crooks (77th), and Jamar Purcell (89th) getting the others.

Lenworth Reckford got Calabar’s consolation in the 67th minute.

Calabar remained second in the standings on eight points, while St Catherine moved into third on six points with a 2-1 win away to Tivoli at Edward Seaga Sports Complex.

At Red Hills Road, the hosts started brightly in the first 10 minutes of play, but failed to maintain their tempo, and Jamaica College obliged in seizing the advantage. The Old Hope Road-based team dominated the remainder of the half and created numerous chances in the hunt for the opening goal, but were delayed by faulty shooting and some tight defensive work at times.

The opening strike eventually came when Campbell picked up a pass at the edge of the 18-yard area and expertly fired home to give JC a 1-0 lead at the break.

The second half began as the first with Calabar asserting their authority early in the probe to get back on level terms.

The much-needed equaliser came 12 minutes into the resumption, when Reckford netted a well-struck right-footed shot after Jamaica College failed to cleanly clear their defensive line.

But that was all the success the Bradley Stewart-coached team would have, as JC once again grabbed the ascendancy after Campbell was allowed three bites at the cherry from a pass across the face of goal and punished the defenders.

The ‘Dark Blues’ went further ahead four-minute later when Calabar’s custodian Jashon Nash left his line unnecessarily and was left for dead by Crooks who calmly slotted into an empty net.

Calabar went agonisingly close through a powerfully driven left-footed shot from Kareem Harris, but Jamalie Waite in goal for Jamaica College was equal to the task and parried.

Purcell then erased all hopes of a comeback when he eased the ball wide of his marker and fired in a dazzling left-footed shot from a distance, which proved the icing on the cake.

In Group G, Kingston College extended their unbeaten run with a 2-0 win over Waterford, while Camperdown High hammered Campion College 9-0.

St Jago assumed pole position in Group E on goal difference with a 3-0 win over Mona, while Bridgeport handed a 8-0 thrashing to Kingston High.

Meanwhile, St Andrew Technical (STATHS) secured win number two for the season with a 1-0 score line against Penwood, while St Mary’s College and Holy Trinity played out a goalless encounter.

— Sherdon Cowan