Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

Coach of Calabar High School, David Hunt (standing), pleading with his players to step up their performances at half-time during their ISSA/JN/Pepsi Manning Cup game against Jamaica College yesterday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

A late strike from Dewayne Williams carried Jamaica College (JC) to a 1-0 win over defending champions Calabar in their Group E ISSA/JN/Pepsi Manning game at Old Hope Road yesterday.

JC, the 19-times champions, took over sole leadership of the group with maximum nine points from three wins, following their 11-0 and 1-0 victories over Oberlin High and St George's College respectively.

Calabar remain second on six points ahead of St George's College on three as the battle for group honours intensifies.

Although Williams scored the all important goal, it was the boy they called "Dadda", Keammar Daley, who stole the show.

The former national Under-17 player, skipped past one player, slipped around another and danced away from the last man, before perfectly picking out Williams between the goalkeeper and the recovering Robert Palmer, to slot home.

Pandemonium broke out as the JC fans stormed the field in wild celebration, beating pot covers, drums and anything in sight.

Well deserved victory

It was a deserved victory for the dark blue and white-clad boys from Old Hope Road as they took the fight to Calabar from the opening whistle.

Defending champion Calabar were losing their first match in two seasons. In fact, they had not lost a match since losing the 2004 Manning Cup final to Excelsior.

Winning coach Alfred Henry said he was on a three-year programme and this is a reflection of what they had planned.

"We really worked hard and we are reaping the rewards. We studied the Calabar midfield and we tried to be the dominant team. They played five we played four, but we worked harder," noted Henry.

SCORES

Jamaica College 1
(Dewayne Williams 88th)

Calabar 0