A mouth-watering showdown is expected this afternoon when Kingston College (KC) and Hydel High clash in their Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Manning Cup return encounter at the Stadium East field.

Kick-off time in the top-of-the-table Zone A clash is set for 3:30.

Former champions KC, who are unbeaten in the competition so far this season, lead the zone with 15 points from five matches. They are followed by Hydel and Calabar who are both on nine points, but each has a game in hand. Charlie Smith High (six points), Camperdown High (three points), and Penwood High (zero) are the other teams in the zone.

In their opening encounter of the season Hydel thrashed KC 4-0, however Hydel were docked three points by ISSA for breaching an ineligibility rule. The disciplinary committee said it found that Hydel exceeded the three “quota players” related to fielding students who were transferred from other schools in the match. The ruling meant KC were instead awarded the three points plus a scoreline of 3-0.

Vassell Reynolds, head coach of KC, said he expects a tough contest but noted that his team will be at full strength — unlike the opening match when they were without a number of key players.

“We are just confident and looking forward to this game, even though we have accepted that it is going to be a difficult game for us based on the position of both teams in the zone,” said Reynolds.

“We have to take care of the ball some more and we have to nullify their attacks, especially in midfield, because I think that is where their strengths lie,” he said.

“To a large extent we were a little depleted in that opening game against them due to injuries and some registration glitches, but we would have got most of those players and so I am hoping that we will be at full strength,” Reynolds stated.

The North Street-based KC will be depending heavily on the likes of Captain Robert Seow, along with Alex Heslop, Demari Daily, Maliek Williams and Jaheim McLean, to lead their charge to victory.

Devon Anderson, the Hydel head coach, said they have put their earlier setbacks behind them and he is confident they can collect all three points.

“We already have that psychological advantage over them…because we went out there and we beat them in our first game of the season, and so we just have to go out there and repeat what we did against them earlier in the season.

“We are going out there to play Hydel football, and at the end of the 90 minutes we should be okay because my guys are ready and raring to go,” he said.

“We have put what happened in the first game of the season against them aside and we are now ready to go out there to do our best to get all these points against this KC team,” Anderson pointed out.

Klylan Smith, who is the top scorer for Hydel this season with seven goals, will lead his team’s charge to victory. He is expected to receive support from Ronaldo Barrett and Deshawn Henry.

TUESDAY’S GAMES

Denham Town vs Jonathan Grant @ Edward Seaga Complex

Eltham vs Greater Portmore @ Eltham High

Excelsior vs Clan Carthy @ Excelsior

St Andrew Technical vs Bridgeport @ Boys’ Town

Tarrant vs Cedar Grove @ Tarrant

Ardenne vs St George’s @ Ardenne

Jose Marti vs Waterford @ Jose Marti

Pembroke Hall vs Campion @ Pembroke Hall

Ascot vs Papine @ Dunbeholden

Donald Quarrie vs St Jago @ Harbour View Stadium

Vauxhall vs Wolmer’s @ Vauxhall

St Mary’s College vs Norman Manley @ St Mary’s College