ROHAN Roye nodded in the winner two minutes from the end to guide St George’s College to a thrilling come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Kingston College (KC) in their second-round ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup Group B fixture at the Constant Spring playing field yesterday.

KC had raced into a 3-0 lead 57 minutes into the feature match of the day, thanks to goals from Jorginho James, Romario Williams and Taval Whittaker before they were sensationally reeled in by deft finishes from Jhuvon Francis, Kendon Anderson and Romario Jones to set up a frantic finale.

In the early Group B kick-off, many-time winners Jamaica College (JC) blanked 2006 champions Bridgeport High, 2-0, courtesy of late goals from Nicholas Scott and Ashani Walker.

Bridgeport were made to pay for wasted first-half opportunities when JC’s Scott, in the 77th minute, and Walker, two minutes into time added-on, condemned them to defeat in an entertaining match-up.

Later, in the ‘North Street derby’, James silenced the Light Blues’ supporters when his 30-yard right-footed free-kick thundered beyond goalkeeper Nico Campbell and into the far corner of the net in the 24th minute.

Having the wind behind their backs and comforted by the one-goal lead, KC pushed forward confidently as their rivals struggled to find their first-half rhythm in the absence of captain and influential midfielder Devon Williams, who had SAT Exams.

Williams’ introduction after the break immediately lifted St Georges, but KC still managed to double their advantage against the run of play.

Just seven minutes had gone by in the second half when Williams expertly headed in a cross from James that hung in the air due to the strong wind.

St George’s were further stunned when questionable positioning from Campbell between the sticks allowed Whittaker’s tame effort to creep in at the near post in the 57th.

The reigning champions rallied one minute later when Francis sneaked behind the Purples’ defence to stab beyond goalkeeper Marc-Anthony Harvey.

Anderson, who moments before had entered the game as a substitute, swivelled and finished acrobatically from close range after an intelligent nod-down from Roye to cut the deficit to one.

St George’s pulled level when Jones headed in from close range in the 74th minute as the tired-looking KC defence crumpled in a heap.

Roye, who had dramatically made the switch across North Street for the current academic year, stung his former school when he rose to power a header past substitute goalkeeper Javaughn Buchanan from Francis’ floated cross in the 88th minute.

James, who was a commanding presence in the centre of KC’s defence, was sent off for a second bookable offence just before the final whistle to further compound what turned out to be a frustrating evening for his team.