Charlie Smith booked their spot in the second round of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Digicel Manning Cup with a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Camperdown High at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.

With Group C leaders Camperdown (23 points) already through, Charlie Smith inched to 18 points and are safely through as they are four points ahead of a Norman Manley following the latter’s 3-0 win over Meadowbrook High with one set of games remaining.

Shaquiel Bradford had given the visiting Camperdown a 32nd-minute lead, slotting home from close range, but substitute Michael Bryan netted in the 68th minute for a share of the points.

It was one of the easiest goals Bryan will score in his life, shaped by a long ball played forward which Camperdown’s goalkeeper Prince-Daniel Smith made a mess of.

Smith ran out of his box to intercept, but the ball bounced over his head. He then turned around and ran back into his penalty area facing his own goal, but instead of using his hands to collect, he tried to kick and was stripped by Bryan who basically walked the ball into an empty net.

Luckily for goalkeeper Smith, it was not a costly mistake as both teams advanced to the next round. The final fixture in the group will be completed on Tuesday before they enter into a second-round two-legged play-off which starts on October 16.

Meanwhile, Denham Town edged St Jago high 1-0 and assumed leadership of Group D with two games remaining. Denham Town moved to the top on 20 points, one more than St Jago, who were suffering their first defeat which left them in second spot on 19 points.

Denham Town are through to the second round, but St Jago will have to wait and need a point from their last two games as third-placed Innswood High are sitting on 13 points and can get a maximum of 19 points.

In Group G, Holy Trinity High joined Wolmer’s Boys’ into the second round.

Wolmer’s Boys’ trounced Pembroke Hall High 4-0 and won Group G with 25 unassailable points with one game left. Holy Trinity High booked their second-round berth following their 3-0 win over José Martí High and stayed second with 21 points.

Edith Dalton James, who had a slim chance of grabbing second spot, lost 0-1 to Waterford High and are now in danger of even qualifying as one of the two best third-placed teams lying on 13 points from nine games.