Excelsior High waltzed into the Super Cup for the second year in succession following their 2-2 draw with St George’s College in the rescheduled Group A Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association/FLOW Manning Cup football match at Stadium East yesterday.

The game was a 45-minute continuation of the September 20 game that was abandoned following the death of St George’s player Dominic James.

When the game was halted at half-time on that ill-fated afternoon, Excelsior were leading St George’s College 2-1.

Thorne Buchanan, in the 30th and 37th minutes, had scored for Excelsior, while Akeem Robothom had replied for St George’s College in minute 25.

However, in yesterday’s resumption, St George’s leading goalscorer Alex Marshall threw a lifeline to his team’s chances of topping the group with a goal 26 minutes into the half. But Excelsior, through staunch defensive work from Alique Skerritt, Cadine Graham, Chavoy Malcolm and Deongelo Campbell, held off skipper Marshall and his marauding bunch of musketeers.

Excelsior have 20 points, while St George’s end a point behind in second place.

The goal was Marshall’s ninth of the campaign and it salvaged a point for St George’s to prevent them suffering the ignominy of being beaten in the two legs of the Manning Cup after previously losing 0-1 to Excelsior at Winchester Park.

With the prospect open for both teams to make it into the lucrative Super Cup with a win, they went for each other’s jugular from the afternoon’s opening whistle.

After 26 minutes had elapsed Marshall disposed of three Excelsior defenders then feinted to pass the ball, and in so doing managed to shift a fourth player to give him shooting space. That he did to tie the game 2-2.

Excelsior also had their moments but they were unable to score. However, the draw was enough to see them through.

Hail Selassie’s 1-0 win over Jonathan Grant gave them Group D honours, while Hydel booked the second automatic qualifying spot in Group G behind winners Bridgeport after clipping St Jago 1-0.

—Hurbun Williams

Yesterday’s results

Group A

Excelsior 2, St George’s College 2

Eltham 2, Vauxhall 1Norman Manley 1, St Mary’s College 0Jonathan Grant 0, Haile Selassie 1St Jago 0, Hydel 1

Group B

Eltham 2, Vauxhall 1

Group C

Norman Manley 1, St Mary’s College 0

Group D

Jonathan Grant 0, Haile Selassie 1

Group G

St Jago 0, Hydel 1