St George’s College bow into second round action today
Many-time champions St George’s College (STGC) will bow into action today in the ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup second-round, first-leg games when they tackle St Jago High at 1:00 pm, while Hydel High play St Catherine High at 3:00 pm at Spanish Town Prison Oval.
In the lone encounter at Constant Spring, Haile Selassie High take on top seed Holy Trinity High at 3:00 pm.
The return legs will be played in two days’ time on Thursday with a double-header at Constant Spring, as Holy Trinity take on Haile Selassie at 1:00 pm and St George’s College oppose St Jago at 3:00 pm. St Catherine will then host Hydel High at Spanish Town Prison Oval at 3:00 pm.
The home teams are named first and the away goal rule will be in effect if the tie is level after two games.
With Bridgeport High, Kingston College (KC), Charlie Smith, St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) and Calabar High holding the advantage from their first legs on Saturday, STGC, Holy Trinity and Hydel are expected to seize their opportunities.
Bridgeport, who were the home team on Saturday, drew 0-0 with Wolmer’s Boys’ and know that any goalscoring draw in the return leg will see them advance to the last eight.
KC hold a 4-1 advantage over Tivoli Gardens, while STATHS have a precious away goal in their 1-1 draw with Camperdown High. Calabar High stunned Excelsior High 2-0 in their designated home game.
Back to the action today STGC, who topped Group D, should start favourites to get the better of Group F runners-up St Jago High.
The “Light Blues” of North Street have lost only once this season and live wire Akeem Robotham and Nathaniel Campbell could prove a handful for the St Jago backline.
In the second of the double-headers at Prison Oval, highly thought-of Hydel High’s mettle will be tested by a dogged St Catherine High.
Meanwhile, high-riding Holy Trinity are heavily fancied to gain the upper hand in their first-leg encounter against Haile Selassie and eventually advance to the quarter-finals. The talented Holy Trinity trio of Shai Smith, Omario Cole and Kadeem Crooks should prove hard to contain.
Today’s games (home teams named first)
1:00 pm St Jago vs St George’s College @ Spanish Town Prison Oval
3:00 pm Hydel High vs St Catherine High @ Spanish Town Prison Oval
3:00 pm Haile Selassie High vs Holy Trinity High @ Constant Spring
