JOSE Marti Technical clipped Camperdown 2-1 to continue their renewed form in Group G of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Flow Manning Cup at the former’s St Catherine base yesterday.

Khalfane Richards (31st) and Shackeem Campbell (65th) got the goals for the hosts, after Oniel Anderson sent Camperdown in front in the 16th minute.

Despite the win, Jose Marti remain in third place on 10 points, two points behind Camperdown on 12 in the battle for a second round berth. Kingston College secured their spot as group winners on 19 points following a 3-0 win over Campion College at Stadium East field.

In St Catherine, It was Camperdown that grabbed the early initiative in an evenly contested first half, when Anderson struck a beauty from a distance which flew past Shakkure Smith in goal for Jose Marti at his near post.

But Richards was equally confident when he converted a well-taken free kick from the edge of the 18-yard area, to put Jose Marti back on level terns at the break.

It was end-to-end action on the resumption as both teams pressed for the winner. The hosts thought they grabbed the advantage when Campbell tipped the ball over the head of Kristoffe Samuels in goal for Camperdown, but was later ruled offside by referee Odette Hamilton. However, Cambell later redeemed himself when he outsprinted two defenders to the ball before firing past a helpless Samuels.

Camperdown then launched an assault in the search for the equaliser and created numerous chances, but were denied by tight defending and faulting shooting.

Winning coach Calvert Fitzgerald was delighted by the win which increased his team’s chances of a second round spot.

“The training over the past week was really good and the guys are getting more confident. I think what really slowed us down in our first games was the name and reputation of those schools, so the guys were tentative and we paid them too much respect.

“So I was encouraging them and told them whatever result we get we will take it. We went all out and applied pressure and it paid off today (yesterday),” he told journalists in a post-game interview.

Camperdown’s assistant coach Stanford Patrick was left disappointed.

“It’s a disappointing result, but we have to congratulate Jose Marti because they came and played competitive today and the got all three points. But we have to go back to training and rethink our strategy for KC (Kingston College) on Saturday,” he noted.

Meanwhile, St Jago extended their lead atop Group E with a 5-0 pounding of Kingston High, while the Bridgeport versus Wolmer’s Boys encounter was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

In Group D, Penwood registered their first point in seven games as they held St Mary’s College to a 1-1 scoreline. Leaders Charlie Smith versus Holy Trinity encounter will be contested tomorrow.