PAYBACK will be the driving force for Mona High this Tuesday as they go head-to-head with Walker Cup champions Kingston College (KC) in a mouth-watering ISSA Manning Cup Group B quarter-final match-up at the Stadium East starting at 2:30 pm.

There will be three other intriguing games as former champions Jamaica College and St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) meet at Waterhouse Stadium at 4:35 pm after Calabar High and Eltham clash in the curtain raiser at 2:30.

Champions Excelsior tackle Wolmer’s Boys’ at 4:35 in the feature encounter at the Stadium East.The eight teams are paired into two groups of which the top two teams will advance to the semi-finals.

Group A consists of Excelsior, Eltham High, Calabar and Wolmer’s Boys, while Group B has KC, STATHS, JC and Mona High considered the Group of Death.

Every team will want a winning start and Mona versus KC encounter is of special interest as both teams met in the Walker Cup, which ended in controversial fashion with KC emerging 2-1 winners coming from behind.

Mona Head Coach Craig Butler hasn’t forgotten the controversial loss his side suffered against the North Street powerhouse in the Walker Cup, and he says his players are out to set the record straight.

“Our boys feel undone by the unfair goal, so we’ll be coming to hunt it and go out there and perform at the highest possible level,” Butler told the Jamaica Observer.

Mona were leading 1-0 from the 15th minute when Skylar McFarlane netted. But KC drew levelled in 60th minute when Rasheed Payne’s free-kick hit the underside of the crossbar and was ruled as a goal by the referee.

BUTLER…our boys feel undone by the unfair goal, so we’ll be coming to hunt it (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Butler disagreed with the call.

KC’s captain Kamaul Patterson then found the winner in the 75th minute.

KC’s coach Jermaine Miller is aware it will be a tough game but says the objective is to get off to a good start.

“For us, the Walker Cup has already been secured and being champions means nothing tomorrow,” he pointed out.

Miller continued: “However, Mona definitely has a point to prove having lost the Clarendon Elite Cup and Walker Cup Finals to us.”

“The group has four quality teams, three of the last four Manning Cup winners, so it will be a challenge for everyone. Our aim at Kingston College is to approach each team as they are rather than looking at what these teams have done in the past. History means nothing when the games start tomorrow,” he noted.

KC will be depending on the likes of Deshawn Byfield, top scorer Shareef Ricketts, Dandre Green, Ryland Fray-Campbell, skipper Patterson, Rasheed Payne amd super sub Zaire Douse.

The talented Sean Leighton will lead the Mona charge along with captain Nathaniel McCarthy, Skylar McFarlane and Niquan Allen.

The other Group B clash features Jamaica College and STATHS. Both teams have been to several Manning Cup finals with JC winning everytime.

But if ever there is a time for STATHS to turn the tables is now as JC, though unbeaten, are vulnerable.

In Group A, champions Excelsior should prove too hot for Wolmer’s Boys and Eltham High should also see off Calabar High.

Tuesday’s matches

Eltham vs Calabar at Waterhouse Stadium — 2:30pm

STATHS vs JC at Waterhouse Stadium — 4:35pm

Mona vs KC at Stadium East — 2:30pm

Excelsior vs Wolmer’s at Stadium East — 4:35pm

SBF central.