Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Oberlin goalkeeper Lance Breakenridge recovers after making a save, while teammates Alando Hall looks on in action from the Issa/Pepsi/Jn Manning Cup at Winchester Park yesterday. St George's won the match 4-0. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

ST. GEORGE'S College got off the mark with a 4-0 victory over debutants Oberlin High in the ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup yesterday.

However, there was disappointment at Winchester Park as many hoped for a wider margin of victory. Haldine James had two goals in the encounter, but by the time crowd favourite Kemar Malcolm slotted in the team's final goal in the 65th minute, many of the North Street faithful had already begun to saunter out - silent, sulky and disappointed.

"It was a poor result," said an obviously disappointed St. George's coach, Edmund Campbell.

"JC were able to beat them 11-0 and we only scored four goals," he said." "We turned the ball over too much - and that was awful. We weren't clinical and we had them in the game a lot ... They had way too much control of the ball."

While St. George's threatened from the outset, Oberlin gave as good as they got in the early going and could have taken the lead. Michael Dadzie strolled past a couple of defenders before rifling a shot at goal from the edge of the 18-yard area but St. George's custodian, Jabari Wallace, was up to the task as he fisted the 16th-minute attempt away.

Poor marking saw St. George's take the lead two minutes later as James, left unattended by three defenders at the back post, strolled in to easily beat Oberlin custodian Lance Breakenridge for his first goal.

Close-range effort

Shelton tapped in a close-range effort to put St. George's further ahead in the 37th minute, while James beat Breakenridge to the ball played to goal from a free kick 30 yards away and headed home for his second of the game in the 57th minute. Despite leading, St. George's finished the game with 10 men as substitute Mikhail Hinds was sent off in the 81st minute for violent conduct. "It was a much better performance than we put out in our first game," said Oberlin coach Rupert Green.

"I think it would have been a different game if we had scored some of our early opportunities but it is a learning experience for us," he said. "We are trying to improve with each game and the goals will come eventually." St. George's are now third in Group E with three points behind Jamaica College and leaders Calabar, who both have six.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Group A: STATHS 0 Waterford 0.

Group C: Charlie Smith 9 St Catherine 0

Kingston Technical 1 Penwood 0. Group E: St George's 4 Oberlin 0.