Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
THREE-TIME Manning Cup champions Norman Manley are still without a win after three games this season.
The Alrick Clarke-coached boys, who last won Corporate Area schoolboy football's most prestigious silverware in 2002, turned up at the Tivoli Gardens Comprehensive High School ground hoping for a win yesterday but had to be content with a come-from-behind 1-1 draw.
NORMAN MANLEY FORTUNATE
In fact, Norman Manley could consider themselves fortunate to leave with a point, having been forced to defend for the last 30 minutes.
Cheered on by a huge home crowd, Tivoli, fresh from their big 12-0 whipping of Cumberland last week, took some time to settle into their game. But they would take the lead in the 25th minute through a Jermaine Allen penalty.
Allen, scorer of six of goals against Cumberland, earned the referee's call after Norman Manley's captain, Rohan McDonald, trying to block his path, handled the ball in the penalty box. However, it was much to the dismay of McDonald who protested to the extent that he was cautioned by the referee for dissent.
But despite going behind, the Norman Manley team showed no signs of giving up. They would pull one back six minutes in the second half. Andre Bailey slided home a Renold Thompson cross to bring Norman Manley level. The goal came one minute after Bailey, from inside the box, shot just wide of Ryan Spence's left upright.
Norman Manley's coach, Alrick Clarke, described the result as "a good draw away from home".
Although still without a win in three games, Clarke says there is no need for panic at the stage.
His opposite number and namesake, Dave Clarke, said the game could have been different if his strikers had taken their chances.
YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
Group A: J.C. 0 STATHS 0, Edith Dalton 1 Jose Marti 5.
Group C: Tivoli 1 Norman Manley 1, KTHS 2 Cumberland 0.
Group E: Clan Carthy 0 Mona 0, Campion 0 Ardenne 1.
