Camperdown High maintained control of Group C after battling to a nil-all result against major rivals Charlie Smith High in yesterday’s ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup match at Alpha Institute.

Camperdown stay top of the group with 13 points from five matches, while Charlie Smith stay second with eight points.

In fairly cool conditions at the Alpha venue, half chances were created at either end in the first half, but both teams were guilty of faulty shooting.

Camperdown tried to play a short passing, possession-based game, Charlie were more direct in their quest to trigger attacks through their powerful and pacy attackers.

The second half was even less spectacular as the teams gave away possession cheaply or made poor decisions in their respective attacking thirds.

But late on the pendulum could have swung either way.

First, Camperdown’s left wing back Shawn Daley got a glorious chance but could only shovel a left-footer over the Charlie Smith goal from inside the box.

Not long after, Charlie Smith’s Garfield Rennicks saw his deflected, close-range effort rebound off the Camperdown cross bar with goalkeeper Prince Smith beaten.

It was the last significant moment of the encounter as the schools settled for a point each.

Christopher Bender, the Camperdown head coach, said he felt a win was on the cards, but was happy to stay five points clear of Charlie Smith.

“Putting things into perspective, we’ve beaten all the teams we expected to beat. We knew this game was going to be our toughest and we stood up and fought.

“In terms of opportunities I think overall we got the clearer ones and should have won the game. On the flip side we didn’t concede a goal and in five goals we have only conceded once,” Bender told the Jamaica Observer in a post-match interview.

He noted that his team coped well against Charlie Smith’s physically imposing players.

“They were very physical but we found courage midway the first half, and that I am pleased about, in terms of people showing up and wanting the ball,” said the Camperdown coach.

Charlie Smith Head Coach Jerome Waite said his team deserved all three points away to the group leaders.

“Camperdown won all four games leading up to this game. But when you analyse the game the clear-cut opportunities created were more from Charlie Smith.

“Today, faulty shooting eluded us. These players have to understand that when you get the chances you have to just put them away. I think we contained them; they have a little skill but physically we had the better of play,” Waite told journalists yesterday.

— Sanjay Myers