Manning Cup top seed Kingston College (KC) kept the numbers even between the urban area and rural area teams in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/FLOW Super Cup competition, following their 2-1 win over Vere Technical at Sabina Park on Saturday.

Omar Thompson in the 30th minute and a 67th-minute penalty by Trayvone Reid ensured that the brave KC did not yield against their Clarendon-based opponents, who pulled one back through David Duckworth in the 48th.

Though a win was heavily anticipated for KC, they had to survive a few anxious moments in the feature contest of the double-header, especially after watching Clarendon College oust Jamaica College in a 1-0 scoreline in the curtain-raiser.

The North Street-based KC booked a quarter-final date with arch-rivals Wolmer’s Boys’, while Excelsior High will oppose Clarendon College and Bridgeport High have the dangerous St Elizabeth Technical High School to contend with.

Cornwall College and Rusea’s High will contest the other quarter-final, as the eight teams continue their hunt for the $1-million top prize and the Italian-designed FLOW Super Cup Trophy.

In Saturday’s feature contest, both teams started brightly and signalled early intentions with a few warning shots on goal.

KC gradually gained the ascendancy and forced their opponents on the back foot as they applied consistent pressure which eventually brought about the opening goal.

Thompson broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark when he slotted past custodian Davoyris Shaw from close range, after being left unmarked inside the area to put KC 1-0 up at the break.

KC’s central defender Davian Shakes overindulged and his carelessness gifted Vere Technical the equaliser three minutes on the resumption when Duckworth stole possession at the top of the box before driving a right-footer past the hapless Jahbanie Grant in goal for KC.

A brief end to end battle ensued approaching the hour-mark with both teams failing to capitalise on the numerous chances created. The momentum later shifted in favour of KC who consistently hit on the counter attack.

Reid went close in the 62nd minute when he shook off a lone defender and released a right-footed shot from just outside the 18-yard area which clipped the crossbar.

Five minutes later, Denilson Simpson got in on the action down the right channel, dismissing two defenders before being brought down inside the area. Reid stepped up and calmly converted the resulting penalty.

The introduction of Shaman Bloomfield, who replaced Ronaldo Robinson in the latter stages of the contest, sparked some excitement for the large KC fan base.

Bloomfield, operating on the right side, was involved in three glorious build-ups which should have seen KC extend their lead, but they were kept at bay by relentless defenders who threw their bodies in front of every effort.

Winning coach Ludlow Bernard felt his team underperformed in some quarters, but was pleased with the win in the end.

“It wasn’t our best performance; I think the way how the Vere Technical team played really set us up for the counter, and we had a lot of moments because we played against a team that packed the midfield. I think we were also a little bit indisciplined in terms of moving the ball from out of the middle of the park into the wide areas.

“But young Bloomfield, when he came on he really started to exert a lot more pressure on the opposition and we got some very good looks in. But it’s a good look for these players who are looking to finish off the season for us,” he told the Jamaica Observer in a post-game interview.

Wayne Whyte was satisfied with the spirited fight by his team.

“I couldn’t ask for a better work rate from the guys, they gave it their all and I must commend them. We got chances to equalise but such is football. We lost by the penalty against us, but I am pretty much satisfied by the performance from the guys and we just have to rebound and prepare ourselves for the daCosta Cup quarter-finals,” said Whyte.