Title-favourites Kingston College (KC) got off to a winning start with a 6-0 trouncing of Spanish Town High in their Group E encounter of the ISSA/Flow Manning Cup competition at the Stadium East field yesterday.

In the other Group E games, Excelsior High whipped Ardenne High 3-0, while Greater Portmore and Norman Manley battled to a 1-1 result.

The much-touted KC showed that they will be a force to be reckoned with, by dispatching Spanish Town High with ease, and had it not been for their profligacy in front of goal, the scoreline could have been in double digits.

They had to wait until the 31st minute before Omar Thompson broke the deadlock, following up on his first attempt that was partially blocked by the goalkeeper Javaughn Bhalai.

The national Under-17 player then grabbed his double, firing home in the 56th minute. Last season’s top scorer Rashawn Mackinson missed a host of chances before getting on the scoresheet in the 48th minute. Renato Campbell scored a beauty in the 52nd, cutting onto his left foot before unleashing a screamer into the roof of the net from just inside the box.

KC’s strength was further displayed as national Under-17 midfielder Trayvon Reid came off the bench and waltzed past two defenders, slotting home in the 65th minute. Another substitute, 15-year-old Dwayne Atkinson, completed the rout in the 81st minute.

KC, with senior Reggae Boy Javain Brown at the back ,alongside Trey Bennett, former national Under-17 wing back Anthoniel Mullings and current national Under-17 right back Casseam Priestly, were never troubled which meant goalkeeper Chadeen Rodriquez had nothing to do.

KC’s Assistant Coach Haron Martin was pleased to get the first game out the way, including the three points.

“I thought it was a good game. I thought we started out a bit slow but picked it up in the second half and got some well-deserved goals,” said Martin.

Spanish Town’s Coach Daine Brown said his team turned in a clinker, probably because of nerves.

“It was a lacklustre game; we played much better than this in preseason games. But I guess the first game of the Manning Cup is a serious thing and you coming up against big guns like KC, so I thought my team was shaky,” Brown pointed out.

Meanwhile, in Group A, Wolmer’s Boys’ registered the biggest margin of victory after dismissing Pembroke Hall High 8-0 at Heroes’ Circle. Tivoli Gardens High whipped Kingston High 4-0, and Haile Selassie edged Innswood High 1-0.

In Group B, former champions Bridgeport High mauled Donald Quarrie High 7-0, while Mona High clipped Papine High 1-0. Jamaica College and St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) battled to a 1-1 draw in the Montego Bay curtain-raiser.

Highly touted Calabar High, on the back of a three-timer by track star Colin Anderson, defeated Jonathan Grant High 5-0 in Group G. Orane Ferguson notched a double. Former champions Charlie Smith High welcomed Cedar Grove High to the Manning Cup competition with a 7-2 thrashing, and Eltham High whipped Campion College 4-0.