Robert Bailey, Freelance Reporter

St. George's College's Sheamar Shelton (left) is tackled by Jamaica College's Marc Robinson during their ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning match yesterday at JC. St. George's won 1-0. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

A 52ND-minute strike by Christopher Johnson carried St. George's College to a stunning 1-0 victory over Jamaica College (JC) to keep their hopes alive for a place in the second round of this year's ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup.

Played at JC, St. George's managed to gain the advantage when Johnson out ran two JC defenders and fire home from point-blank range.

Earlier, JC dominated the first period but failed to convert against a weak St. George's College defensive unit. Dwayne Williams, Kemar Daley and George Smart all failed to capitalise on numerous clear scoring chances. St. George's College's best chance fell to Kemar Malcolm but his close-range shot went wide of the target.

Free kick hit post

In the second half, JC went on the attack after conceding the goal and should have equalised a couple minutes later but Daley's free kick hit the post.

Then, JC substitute Jason Forbes' clear header on goal was well saved by goalkeeper Fabari Wallace

Johnson, should have doubled his team's lead in the dying stages of the match, but after outsprinting a couple of JC defenders, his effort on goal was weak.

Everal Campbell, coach of St. George's College, was pleased with his team's performance.

."This is a very good victory," Campbell said.

"The boys kept their focus today. We played in patches, but my team showed a lot of character because we came to JC and took all three points. I am delighted with that," he said.

JC coach Alfred Henry said: " I am not really disappointed because you have to expect this when you are coaching football so whatever comes, you just have to work with it."

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Group A: Excelsior 1 STATHS 0, Waterford 4 Dunoon 0.

Group C: Charlie Smith 2 Kingston Technical 1

Group E: St. George's College 1 Jamaica College 0.