HYDEL took a step towards qualifying for the second round of the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over former champions Calabar, in their Group A encounter at Red Hills Road on Saturday.

Omario Henry, in the 29th minute, and D’Sean Henry in the 73rd minute were the goalscorers for the Devon Anderson-coached Hydel. Isaac Clarke scored for Calabar in the 14th minute.

Hydel had to play almost the entire second half with 10 players as Kialand Smith was sent off in the 54th minute after being shown a second yellow card.

The victory has moved Hydel from third to second place in the group with 12 points, ahead of Calabar who are also on 12; however, Hydel holds a goal difference advantage of +1 over their opponents in the standings. Kingston College leads the group with maximum 18 points from six matches.

Charlie Smith is fourth with nine points, followed by Camperdown (3) and Penwood (0).

Anderson says it was a big win for his team as they look to advance.

It was very important for us to win this game and get back on the right path where winning is concerned,” Anderson said. “We really wanted these points [in order] to stay in the hunt for the spot in the next stage of the competition, and the boys went out and they fought really hard despite us going down to 10 men early in the first half, so I must lift my hat to them.

“We are just taking it one game at a time but we are very happy for these three points here at Calabar.”

Calabar Head Coach Andrew Price says a goalkeeping error cost them.

“I think that we were a bit unfortunate because young players make errors and our goalkeeper made a big blunder in giving up that go-ahead goal for Hydel; I think that really changed the game,” Price said. “I think that the game was pretty much balanced, for the most part, and there were times when we had some ascendancy and we should have been a little more clinical in front of the goal.”

Playing in front of a fair-size crowd at home, Calabar dominated the early exchanges and were rewarded when Hydel’s goalkeeper Idrian Robinson misjudged Clarke’s tame effort to tip the ball into his own goal, much to the delight of the hosts’ spectators.

However, Hydel quickly found their rhythm as they created a number of scoring opportunities, which they failed to convert. They were rewarded when Henry tapped home past goalkeeper Omari Grant from 10 yards as they first ended 1-1.

Hydel were reduced to 10 players nine minutes into the second half when Smith was dismissed.

However, despite going down to 10 players, Hydel kept on running at the Calabar defenders and they were rewarded when Henry lobbed the ball over Grant, who was advancing out of the goal from 15 yards.