N. Manley trounce Ascot

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Norman Manley registered their second consecutive win in the 2001 Manning Cup football competition with a 2-0 victory over Ascot at Tinson Pen yesterday.

Keron Grant and Weston Forrest found the back of the net for Norman Manley in the 16th and 75th minutes respectively. The win put Norman Manley, who opened their account on the first day of the competition with a 2-0 win over St Catherine, on top of Group A with six points.

Norman Manley are followed in the group by Holy Trinity who drew 0-0 with Clan Carthy on four points. Ascot are next with three points followed by Clan Carthy and St. Catherine High with two and one points respectively.

In other games played yesterday, Wolmer's registered a big win in Group B, hammering Haile Selassie 6-0 to advance to the top of the group. Waterford who are also on four points, are second due to an inferior goal difference.

In Group C, Jamaica College registered a 3-0 win over Jose Marti to move to six points from two games. Bridgeport Comprehensive moved alongside JC with six points from three games with a 4-0 whipping of Dunnoon to move three points clear of them and St. George's. Jose Marti are still pointless.

The lone Group D match played between Kingston College and Charlie Smith ended goalless at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex.

At the Tinson Pen playfield, the defending champions did little to show they are a special team this time around. Throughout most of the game they concentrated more on individual play as opposed to team football and rarely showed their class.

Forrest, their most accomplished player and who has represented Waterhouse in the National Premier League, failed to show he was a cut above the other players. He drifted in and out of the game and when asked why his standard was so low responded he did not want to get a broken leg.

It was in one of those rare moments that Forrest showed initiative that Norman Manley took the lead. He dismembered Justin Anderson who captained Ascot in the first half and crossed inside for Grant to fire home.

For a brief period he dictated the pace of the game and even engineered a brilliant move in the 24th minute, picking up the ball deep inside his own half and dribbling through the Ascot midfield before releasing Grant down the right flank who crossed for Kayon Cameron who headed wide.

Ascot tried to make a game of the match largely though Omar Henry who assumed the captain's arm band for the second half and Camar Hunter. Whatever fight they had Carey Britton put a firm challenge of Forrest inside the six yard box causing the ball to trickle inside his own net.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Wolmer's 6 Haile Selassie 0, Bridgeport 4 Dunoon 0, Jamaica College 3 Jose Marti 0, Norman Manley 2 Ascot 0, Holy Trinity 0 Clan Carthy 0, Charlie Smith 0 Kingston College 0.

The game between Donald Quarrie and Waterford was not played.

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