EXCELSIOR High and Tivoli Gardens High are set to clash in what is expected to be an epic Group 1 encounter in the ISSA Manning Cup, with both teams in a dogfight to secure the second quarter-final spot.

Match time is 3:00 pm at Excelsior High School.

There will be three other games, with Group 1 leaders St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) taking on Wolmer’s Boys’ at Calabar High School while in Group 3, Vauxhall High tackle Charlie Smith High at Winchester Park and St George’s College travel to Spanish Town Prison Oval to face St Catherine High.

Coached by Keon Broderick, Excelsior High were one of the early season favourites, but are in a bit of a bind after losing to STATHS 0-1 last week. Excelsior are on three points, the same as Tivoli Gardens who defeated Wolmer’s 2-0.

With STATHS sitting pretty on six points and into the quarter-finals the battle to determine who will join them will be a very interesting one. As it stands, Excelsior, with a better goal difference, sits in second spot and only need a draw. The Christopher Nicholas-coached Tivoli Gardens must win to advance.

The stage is set for a memorable one as Tivoli Gardens, who finished second to Kingston College in the first round, are showing that they can mix it up with the big boys and should not be taken lightly.

STATHS, on the other hand, will be aiming to make it three wins from three games in the second round when they face the already-eliminated Wolmer’s Boys’. STATHS defeated both Excelsior High and Tivoli Gardens by one-goal margins but should have an easier passage against Wolmer’s.

In Group 3, leaders Charlie Smith, who are on six points and already through to the quarter-finals, take on second-placed Vauxhall (four points) in a top-of-the-table clash.

Vauxhall, despite sitting three points ahead of third-placed St Catherine High, are not guaranteed a spot in the quarter-finals. If they lose to Charlie Smith, and St Catherine High (one point) beat St George’s College by three or more goals, St Catherine could steal the final spot ahead of Vauxhall.

St Catherine, who lost the Manning Cup final to Kingston College last year are, in many people’s book, the favourites to win it all this season. But they are in real danger of exiting the competition — even if they beat St George’s College — as a draw between Charlie Smith and Vauxhall or a win for Vauxhall would eliminate them.

St Catherine’s destiny is not in their own hands. They must beat St George’s College handily and await the result from the game between Charlie Smith and Vauxhall.

Christopher Nicholas, head coach of Tivoli Gardens High (Photos: Joseph Wellington)