Manning Cup: St Catherine top Zone G with 1-0 win over St George’s

St Catherine High secured a 1-0 win over 22-time champions St George’s College on Friday, finishing the preliminary round of the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup unbeaten.

Romaine Walters scored the decisive goal in the 28th minute at St George’s College, ensuring St Catherine ended Zone G with seven wins and a draw from eight matches. The only draw came against St George’s College in their first-leg clash on September 21.

Both teams had already qualified for the second round before the match, but St Catherine claimed the top spot in the zone with 22 points. St George’s, experiencing their first defeat of the season, finished second on 19 points and will now be grouped with reigning champions Mona High for the next stage.

Holy Trinity High, despite a 2-1 loss to fourth-place Norman Manley, ended third with seven points, the same total as Norman Manley.

St Catherine’s assistant coach Donovan Lofters praised his team's effort. "It was a spirited performance. Playing against St George’s at home was always going to be difficult, but kudos to our keeper; he kept us in the game. It was a game of moments; we took one of our chances, and this is good for our confidence moving forward," he said.

Neville Bell, coach of St George’s College, acknowledged the standout performance of St Catherine goalkeeper Omarion Brown. "I thought we deserved something from the game, but we didn’t score, and we conceded a goal we shouldn't have. Omarion Brown kept them in the game. Congratulations to them and to him; he was outstanding. We wanted to win or at least get a point, but we are in the second round, so we are good," Bell commented.

The preliminary phase concludes on Saturday, with the top two teams from each of the seven zones, along with the two best third-placed teams, moving on to the next round. In total, 16 teams will advance.

Three spots remain up for grabs, including the two other automatic qualifying positions from Zone B and Zone F as well as the other best third-placed team. St Jago High from Zone E have already secured a spot as one of the best third-placed teams.

The 13 teams confirmed for the next round so far are Eltham High and Hydel High (Zone A), Mona High (Zone B), Kingston College and Campion College (Zone C), St Andrew Technical High School and Calabar (Zone D), Tivoli Gardens High, Wolmer's Boys and St Jago (Zone E), Jamaica College (Zone F), and St St Catherine High and St George's College (Zone G).

Friday’s resultsSt George’ College 0, St Catherine High 1Holy Trinity High 1, Norman Manley High 2

Saturday’s scheduleHydel High vs Eltham High at Owen Palmer OvalArdenne High vs Clan Carthy High at Ardenne HighMona High vs Charlie Smith High at Mona HighWaterford High vs Tarrant High at Waterford HighJonathan Grant High vs Gaynstead High at Jonathan Grant High STATHS vs Haile Selassie High at Boys’ Town fieldCalabar High vs Camperdown High at Calabar HighVauxhall High vs Kingston Technical at Vauxhall HighJamaica College vs Bridgeport High at JCAscot High vs Excelsior High at Ferdie Neita Park

All games kick off at 3:30 pm.