Despite their unbeaten run in the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup coming to an end, Penwood High Head Coach Robert Garwood says it’s his mission to remove a culture of indiscipline in his team.

Penwood, who went unbeaten in their first four games, including a famous 2-2 draw with Kingston College (KC), suffered a 2-0 defeat to hosts Campion on Wednesday.

Strikes from Zaeem Keshinro and Tyler Falconer were enough to give Campion the victory. Garwood, though, wasn’t impressed with his team’s approach in the game.

“It was just pure indiscipline,” he said. “The way they were supposed to play the game, they went out and did a different thing. It wasn’t that Campion outplayed us but we just did what we weren’t supposed to do.

“Possibly, they were overconfident because they’re young but I have to just continue working with them, I can’t give up on them. They will come back.”

Garwood says the boys have adopted bad habits attending the Olympic Gardens based school but he says it will take a massive effort to get them to change and make a rare second round appearance.

“Mi proud a dem, mi a tell yuh the God truth,” he said. “It’s just the indiscipline because remember this is Penwood so we have to try to work as hard as possible. The principal, the vice-principal, the dean, the teachers, the coaching staff, and the boys themselves.

“We just have to try to get it together with the discipline because some of them really need some discipline, so we have to try to get in their heads. We organised something and we only hope it will work. We’re going to do that to get them focused and disciplined.”

Campion, themselves, have proven to be surprise packages as they’ve advanced from the group stage over the last two years.

It’s a stark contrast for the school who were often cellar dwellers of the competition.

However, Technical Director Ashton Blankson says the school’s football programme has been improving yearly due to consistency.

“To develop players, you need them to play more and through our academy mainly, we have our players really engaged,” Blankson said. “We have a few playing for other clubs as well but what we just ensure is really 100 per cent of our players play all year round.

Campion remain in contention for a second round spot, moving to 10 points in Group C, the same as second placed Penwood who have a greater goal difference and three behind leaders KC.

Blankson says his team need to remain focused to achieve its target.

“It’s taking it a game at a time,” he said. “We have some opponents that have been a little bit easier to handle, so we need to finish those games in a strong way because goal difference might make a difference. We then have to prepare ourselves mentally against Penwood at their home, as well as KC. I think we have a strong chance but it’s up to us to finish it up.”

Wednesday’s results

Campion 2, Penwood 0

Kingston College 7, Meadowbrook 0

Bridgeport 0, Jamaica College 9

Haile Selassie 0, STATHS 1

Excelsior 11, Pembroke Hall 0

Vauxhall 1, Camperdown 1

Thursday’s games

Gaynstead vs Mona @ Papine

Dunoon Park Technical vs Hydel @ Excelsior

Charlie Smith vs Jonathan Grant @ Charlie Smith

St Catherine vs Papine @ St Catherine

Clan Carthy vs Ardenne @ Alpha

Tarrant vs Waterford @ Jacisera Park