Former champions Charlie Smith High held off a marauding Eltham High 3-2 at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday to advance to the knockout stage of the ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup .

A double strike from skipper Romeo Guthrie (22nd and 45th) and Jomo Young’s effort in the seventh minute powered Charlie Smith, while Kemar Coleman replied for Eltham High with a two-timer in the 61st and 77th minutes.

However, Guthrie almost went from hero to zero after he picked up a straight red card in the 70th minute for dangerous play.

The three points put Charlie Smith on 22 points, while Eltham will now wait to see whether they can make it into the KO stages as one of the best third-place finishers.

With both teams locked on 19 points going into the contest, the game was ripe for plenty of excitement. Charlie Smith, playing at home, had an advantage, but the wet underfoot conditions were not suited to their ground-passing game. However, after seven minutes, they grabbed the advantage courtesy of Young, who handed them an encouraging lead.

Fifteen minutes later skipper Guthrie boosted his team’s resolve by adding another. He did not stop there, completing the double to take his team to the break with what appeared to be a comfortable lead 3-0 lead.

Eltham, who gave Charlie Smith a torrid time in the reverse fixture earlier this season, were not done yet. They returned for the second session all ready, knowing that anything other than a win would make it difficult for them to make it to the KO phase. Eltham saw a glimmer of hope when Coleman reduced the deficit in the 61st minute. The encouragement drove them on and by the 77th minute he struck again.

Playing the final 20 minutes with 10 players put Charlie Smith under tremendous pressure. But the defence, however, led by goalkeeper Tuishane Edwards, held off a rampaging Eltham for the nerve- settling win.

— Hurbun Williams

Yesterday’s results

Group A

Innswood vs Pembroke Hall (Did not play)

Wolmer’s 1, Tivoli 0

Haile Selassie vs Kingston High (Did not play)

Group B

Bridgeport 3, Mona 1

Papine 0, Jamaica College 1

Donald Quarrie 0, STATHS 2

Group C

Cumberland vs St Mary’s College (Did not play)

Camperdown 2, Waterford 1

Hydel 7, Meadowbrook 1

Group D

Tarrant 3, Kingston Technical 0

St George’s College vs Denham Town (Called off)

St Catherine 4, Vauxhall 0

Group E

Excelsior 9, Spanish Town 1

Kingston College 6, Greater Portmore 0

Ardenne 2, Norman Manley 0

Group F

Jose Marti Technical 1, Holy Trinity 4

Ascot 0, Clan Carthy 2

Edith Dalton James vs St Jago (Did not play)

Group G

Jonathan Grant, Cedar Grove

Charlie Smith 3, Eltham 2

Calabar 10, Campion College