Former champions Jamaica College (JC) and St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) have both punched their tickets to the semi-finals of the ISSA/Manning Cup competition after victories over Haile Selassie and Wolmer’s Boys, respectively, at the Stadium East field on Tuesday.

JC got their goals from Kevaughn Wilson in the 28th minute and Jahmarly Bennett in the 62nd for their 2-0 win over Haile Selassie in the opening match of a double-header.

STATHS, who are making it to the semi-finals of the competition for the fifth consecutive year, secured their place in the last four with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Wolmer’s.

JC lead the group with six points on goal difference ahead of STATHS, who are also on the same number of points. They are followed by Haile Selassie and Wolmer’s, who are both without a point from their two matches.

Davion Ferguson, coach of JC, who were beaten 5-4 on penalties by rivals Kingston College in last year’s final of the competition, said he is very happy to be in the semi-finals.

“It is a good feeling because we planned on reaching the semi-finals because it is an objective that we had,” said Ferguson.

Reflecting on his team’s performance against Haile Selassie, Ferguson added: “It was good because we controlled the game and I didn’t think we did more than we needed to do to win the game, which is very important at this stage of the season.”

“I think on the level of efficiency, it is an efficient performance from us throughout the game,” he added.

In the second match, second-half substitute Omari Laing scored a brilliant long-range goal for STATHS in the 89th minute to lead them to victory over Wolmer’s.

STATHS Coach Phillip Williams said he was pleased with his team’s performance.

“I am very elated and I am very happy for these guys because this is a young team and to achieve of the objectives that they have set out, I am very happy for them,” said Williams.

“It was a very solid game from us because we played a very patient and very mature game,” he added.

The first half of the match was evenly contested with both sides squandering clear-cut chances at both ends of the field.

However, Laing was brought on by Williams at the start of the second half and he made an instant impact for his team.

In fact, the diminutive player tormented the Wolmer’s defenders with his pace and swift dribbling while creating a number of scoring chances for his teammates which they failed to convert earlier on in the second period.

STATHS were finally rewarded for their dominance a minute from full time, when Laing collected a ball in the middle of the field then proceeded to turn away from his marker before unleashing a powerful right-footed shot past the Wolmer’s custodian.

JC and STATHS will meet on Friday to decide the group winners.

Meanwhile, in today’s double-header at the Stadium East field, Charlie Smith will tackle Kingston College at 1:00 pm and Mona face St George’s College at 3:15 pm.

Tuesday’s results

Jamaica College 2, Haile Selassie 0

STATHS 1, Wolmer’s 0

Today’s games

Charlie Smith vs Kingston College @ 1:00 pm

Mona vs St George’s College @ 3:15 pm

*Both matches at Stadium East field