Excelsior and Holy Trinity tied atop Group H as Manning Cup second round begins

Photo: Excelsior co-captain Cadine Graham celebrates after bringing his team level at 1-1 against Jonathan Grant in the ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup competition on Monday. Excelsior went on to win the game 2-1 when Tyrick Sutherland scored the winner in the second half.

Excelsior High school and Holy Trinity High scored identical 2-1 victories over Jonathan Grant and Camperdown High respectively on Monday as the quarterfinal round of the ISSA/FLOW Manning Cup competition began in earnest at the Constant Spring Field.

In the first game of the double header, Excelsior were stunned by Jonathan Grant who took the lead in the 5^th minute when their captain Tahj Beckford rose high to head home a corner kick that the Excelsior defenders tried to scramble off the line, but to no avail.

Stung into action, the Shavar Thomas coached team took the game by the scruff on the neck and were level eight minutes later when co-captain Cadine Graham scored. Playing in an unusual strikers’ role, Graham managed to get his head onto a right sided cross which went in at the near post, despite the best efforts of a defender on the line.

Excelsior then took total control of the game, creating a number of chances including one in which Kimani Decombre rounded the keeper only to see his goal bound shot cleared off the line.

But Jonathan Grant clawed their way back into the contest late in the half and saw a goal bound effort of their own cleared off the line by central defender Chavoy Malcolm.

Excelsior then grabbed the winner shortly after the restart. Central midfielder Tyrick Sutherland rose high and headed a cross powerfully on target. The ball kissed the right upright and nestled into the back of the net in the 53^rd minute, to the delight of the small group of Excelsior fans in the stands.

Chavar Thomas was happy to get three points, saying “At this stage of the season it is about getting three points. We were able to do that today so I am happy.”

In the feature game, Holy Trinity High took the lead midway the half when Lloyd Reynolds played a brilliant one time pass to Shai Smith who rounded the advancing goalkeeper Prince-Daniel Smith before slotting home for his team.

It was the second game for Holy Trinity in just over 24 hours having played the Super Cup match on Saturday in Montego Bay, so the question was, would their legs hold up despite the early advantage?

Camperdown had been inactive for almost two weeks and made the fresher legs tell, pulling back a goal through in the minute Nicolai Small in the 73^rd minute.

But the Holy Trinity team showed true grit and determination after a heart breaking 4-3 loss to STETHS on Saturday. Despite being reduced to 10 players three minutes from time, when Lloyd Reynolds received a second booking in the match, Orando Salmon gave his school three vital points when he netted in the final minute.