JAMAICA COLLEGE became the sixth team to qualify for the second stage of the 2002 Pepsi/Sports Plus Manning Cup schoolboy football competition following their 2-0 win against Haile Selassie at Tinson Pen yesterday.
After a goalless first half, Joseph Shaw scored a beauty in the 80th minute, and four minutes later Haile Sellasie were caught on the counter which allowed Jelvarte Williams to secure JC's place in the second round.
Meanwhile, Wolmer's, Spanish Town, Excelsior, Holy Trinity, Camperdown and Denham Town improved their chances of a second-round berth with important victories yesterday.
Despite their losses yesterday, Ascot, Ardenne, Innswood, Haile Sellasie and St. Catherine are still in with a slim chance of making it to the round of 12.
Over at Spanish Town Prison Oval, last year's beaten finalists Spanish Town Comprehensive boosted their hopes with a 4-2 win over Innswood.
The win moved them to 17 points and second position behind Jamaica College with four matches remaining. Innswood, who started off the season on a bright note, slipped to third place with 12 points and with three to play.
Winning coach Cecil Thomas was happy with Spanish Town's victory.
A number of teams are vying for the remaining spot for the second round and we are happy with the victory as we want to top the group. Jamaica College are ahead of us at present and we have them to play twice and we are hoping for good results in those games as our team has started to show its true worth," said Thomas.
Losing coach Dwight Angus was humble in defeat.
"The guys gave a good account of themselves and I am very pleased with the way they played today as they have shown tremendous improvement since their game against Jamaica College," Angus said.
"Although our chance of advancing to the next round is very slim we are going to continue to play well as anything can happen," he said.
