Frustration was high in the Hydel camp as they surrendered the lead twice and were held to a 2-2 scoreline by Calabar in a crucial ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup Group G fixture at Red Hills Road yesterday.

Tray McKay (3rd minute) and Brad Tulley (88th) got the goals for Hydel, but Orane Ferguson (73rd) and an own goal by Maleek Campbell (90+4) ensured Calabar a share of the spoils.

Despite the point, Hydel remain in contention for one of the best third-place qualifiers, as group winners Bridgeport and St Jago secured the top two spots following 5-0 and 1-0 victories over Campion College and Cumberland, respectively.

Meanwhile, many-time champions St George’s College kept their chances of topping Group A and defending the Super Cup title alive after they got past Greater Portmore 2-1 at the latter’s home base,while leaders Excelsior clipped Tivoli Gardens High 3-2 at Stadium East.

Hydel got off to a frantic start at Red Hills Road as they rushed into the lead courtesy of McKay, who showed good ball-handling skills to dribble his way into the box and slot home from close range.

With the score unchanged at the break, Hydel maintained the ascendancy at the resumption and applied consistent pressure in their probe to extend the lead, but they were closed out by tight defending from the opponents.

Calabar were eventually back on level terms when custodian Gawaine Small failed to gather the ball cleanly from Hakeem McKay’s long pass from the middle of the park and allowed Ferguson to slot home from the melée.

However, their celebrations were short-lived, as a composed Kevin Wright went on a brilliant individual run down the left channel and expertly picked a pass to Tulley who made no mistakes from close range.

Wright was ejected two minutes later after he was shown the yellow card a second time by referee Carvel Banton for a reckless challenge.

A long throw from Brendan Freckleton was spliced off the right boot of Campbell and past a hapless Small in time added.

Meanwhile, Haile Selassie High maintained their three-point lead atop Group D with 24 after edging St Catherine High 1-0 at the Barbican playing field yesterday.

Haile Selassie scored the all-important goal in the 55th minute through Akeem Grandison.

The narrow victory positioned Haile Selassie favourably to make it into the second round for the third year running.

With Haile Selassie on 21 points and St Catherine on 17, both teams needed to win in order to secure a spot in the second round of the competition.

With second-placed Jonathan Grant on 19 points, it became more crucial for both Haile Selassie and St Catherine to hunt full points to stay in contention.

— Sherdon Cowan