If ever there was any questions about Jonathan Grant’s potential to make a deep run in this year’s ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup, Head Coach Kemeel Wolfe believes those would have been answered by his team’s character in a come-from-behind 3-3 stalemate with St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) at the former’s home turf on Saturday.

Like they did in their first-leg tie which ended in a 2-2 stalemate, Jonathan Grant again showed grit and determination as they came from behind three times to again secure a share of the spoils in the Group D top-of-the-table clash at home.

Substitute Shamar Armstrong (60th minute), Rasharkin Williams (81st) and Donrick Richards (85th) ensured Jonathan Grant’s rally, after Omar Reid (31st), Leon Brown (47th) and Andre Salmon (76th) found the target for STATHS.

Still, it’s as you were on the standings with STATHS inching up to 18 points, one ahead of Jonathan Grant on 17.

“These games are always one of those dogfight games, but all the credit to my boys, they came back and they fought and I’m happy for the point,” Wolfe told the Jamaica Observer in a post-game interview.

“This is something that we thought them to be resilient and never to stop playing until the last whistle and they showed that character. So I’m really happy and proud of the boys, we are here to compete, there are certain things we need to fine-tune going forward but the aim is to go as far as possible,” he added.

It was all St Andrew Technical at the start, as Jonathan Grant surprisingly offered very little in attack, and at one point, seemed content with absorbing pressure as they struggled to contend with STATHS’ early rhythm.

STATHS inevitably broke the deadlock when a good team build up ended with Reid slipping his marker before driving home a left-footer from just inside the 18-yard box.

The visitors should have doubled the lead before the break when Shakeone Satchwell was felled inside the danger area, but Richard Livingston’s 12-yard kick was denied by Ammiel Hibbert in goal for Jonathan Grant, ensuring the score remained unchanged at the break.

STATHS maintained their momentum on the resumption and extended their lead two minutes in when Brown fired home from close range.

That may have been the shot in the arm Jonathan Grant needed as they came to life in the attacking third and later pulled one back on the hour mark when Armstrong fired home from a quick break.

From there, Jonathan Grant enjoyed a decent passage of play and gradually forced STATHS into a defensive posture.

However, the Bumper Hall-based team broke the shackles courtesy of a tidy counter-attacking play which ended with Salmon finishing a right-footer with aplomb.

But Jonathan Grant responded five minutes later when Williams’s weighted corner kick was expertly headed in by Armstrong.

And before STATHS could catch their collective breath, they were hit from another set play, as Tafari Williams’ free kick found Richards who capitalised on space and time to put Jonathan Grant back on level terms five minutes from time.

Saturday’s results

Group D

Jonathan Grant 3, STATHS 3

Dunoon Technical 0, Tarrant 5

— Sherdon Cowan