Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
WITH SO much still left to be decided in the 2005 ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup first round, Wilma's rains have left many loyal schoolboy football spectators to bite their nails in the anticipation of the restart of play.
But action is expected to resume today with 10 games scheduled. Among them are a number of crucial fixtures that could see a lot of things sorted out by the end of the day.
Kingston College find themselves locked in a Group E battle with newcomers Eltham High for a spot in the second round. The odds are stacked against the men from North Street as they have only one game remaining while the team from St Catherine has two.
POSSIBLE TENURE END
A loss today to group leaders Bridgeport today would effectively put an end to the team's tenure in the competition. However, should they win and Eltham lose one of their two remaining games, goal difference will decide which team advances, but as things stand now, Eltham are ahead on goal difference.
A draw against Bridgeport must be coupled with two Eltham losses in order for them to advance outright, while an Eltham loss and a draw would once again bring the question of goal difference into play.
Things are just as tight in Group B with a point separating Calabar, Dunoon Technical and Charlie Smith at the top and a spot in the competition's next round is still very much up for grabs. With just a game left in the round - and against each other - a win for Dunoon or Charlie would put them through to the next round.
Top of the table Calabar can also book their spot in the second round with a win against already eliminated Ardenne. A draw for Charlie Smith against Dunoon and an unlikely Calabar loss would see Dunoon top the zone, leaving the final spot to be decided by goal difference.
However, even in this scenario, Charlie Smith are likely to be left in the cold as it would take a huge Calabar loss for them not to advance as they already have a +6 advantage in terms of goal difference.
GROUP TWO
In Group C, Norman Manley and St Andrew Technical have already booked their places, so today's scheduled fixtures of Clan Carthy versus STATHS and Norman Manley against Trench Town are simply to decide first and second place.
In Group F, which is still wide open, second-placed Spanish Town will look to keep the distance between themselves and fourth-placed St Catherine who are very much in contention with four games left to play.
Over in Group A, Jamaica College need to secure only a point in their fixture against Jose Marti to advance, and that is quite likely as they pounded them 7-0 the last time the teams met at JC. Defending champions Excelsior have some work to do if they are to qualify as they must find a way to overtake Mona in their final two games.
TODAY'S GAMES
Group A: Jose Marti vs Jamaica College.
Group B: Charlie Smith vs Dunoon, Ardenne vs Calabar, Vauxhall vs Tarrant .
Group C: Clan Carthy vs STATHS, Norman Manley vs Trench Town, Campion vs Penwood.
Group E: St Jago vs Eltham, Bridgeport vs KC.
Group F: St. Catherine vs Spanish Town.
