Title-aspirants Kingston College (KC) wrapped up their eighth-consecutive victory when they defeated Calabar High 2-0 in their Group B encounter during the 2018 ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup at Stadium East yesterday.

Renato Campbell opened the scoring in the 16th minute and Trayvon Reid added the second in the 48th minute of play.

It was a show of continued dominance after defeating Calabar 4-0 in the first leg in their backyard at Red Hills Road last month, as KC secured their place in the next round with two group games remaining.

KC sit comfortably atop the group with maximum 24 points, while Calabar remains in third place on 13 points. It was basically a must-win game for the visitors and yesterday’s defeat has pushed Calabar closer to elimination.

Second-placed Mona High (19 points) have all but booked their spot in the next round, after defeating host and fifth-placed Clan Carthy (three points) 3-0. In the other game, fourth-placed Dunoon Technical (six points) whipped sixth-placed Ardenne High (zero points) 5-2.

KC enjoyed more possession of the ball in the first half and could have opened the scoring as early as the 13th minute, but left-footed strike from the silky Jonathan Morrison from 25 yards rattled the left upright of Calabar’s goal frame.

KC continued their pressure and three minutes later they broke the deadlock when Campbell received the ball just outside of the penalty box and planted it in the upper left corner of Calabar’s goal, gave Ronaldinho Small very little chance for a possible save.

Calabar responded immediately with a one-two effort from Navaro Thomas and Ochand Notice, but they couldn’t break KC’s backline in the process.

With elimination a real possibility, Calabar had to attack on the resumption and so they did with a couple of goalscoring opportunities, but their front line players failed to connect on each occasion.

However, a counter play by KC sank Calabar further into a hole at 0-2, with a 48th -inute strike from Reid. With two defenders and the goalkeeper to beat, Reid watched his shot curl into the upper right corner of Calabar’s goal.

Despite a heavy downpour and a late surge from Calabar in the final 15 minutes of the game, KC remained resolute in extending their unbeaten run in the competition so far.

Yesterday’s results

Group A

Cedar Grove vs Tarrant was rained out with the latter leading 2-1

Cumberland vs STATHS was also rained out with the former leading 1-0

St George’s College 3, Papine 0

Group B

KC 2, Calabar 0

Clan Carthy 0, Mona 3

Dunoon Technical 5, Ardenne 2

Group D

Bridgeport vs Greater Portmore was rained out with the former leading 1-0

Tivoli 0, Innswood 1

Group E

Excelsior 2, St Catherine 0

Group F

Kingston Technical 0, Vauxhall 0

Campion College 0, JC 6

Today’s games

Group C

Charlie Smith vs Camperdown

Meadowbrook vs Norman Manley

Jonathan Grant vs Eltham

Group D

Denham Town vs St Jago

Group G

Wolmer’s vs Pembroke Hall

Jose Marti vs Holy Trinity

Waterford vs Edith Dalton

(Home teams are named first and all games begin at 3:30 pm)