Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Wolmer's Mikhail Hewitt looks to shield the ball away from Calabar's Shane Bygrave in ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup action at the Stadium East field yesterday. Calabar won 2-0. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Calabar and last year's beaten finalist, Norman Manley, are in good position to advance from the ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup Group Two, following 2-0 respective wins over Wolmer's and Waterford at the Stadium East field yesterday.

Despite closing the half the stronger team, it was a temporary lapse in concentration which saw the titleholders surge ahead in first half added time through an alert Cleyon Brown.

Brown, who had been absent from the team due to injury, snuck his way past defenders to pick up a poor attempted clearance and burst into the box to toe past stranded Wolmer's custodian Jamie Roberts.

Roberts would not finish the game in goal for the Heroes' Circle team as in the 72nd minute a nasty collision with Calabar front man Kenneil Hyde saw both players having to leave the pitch.

The new man between the sticks, Stephen Samms, was put on the spot less than 10 minutes after being on the pitch as he faced a 71st minute penalty.

Samms did well to keep the initial shot out but his back line, as if it had already given up on the play, reacted too slowly to the follow-up attempt.

The cross, which then resulted from Samms parry, saw Conroy Cunning rise high to head home Calabar's second in the 72nd minute.

Bad afternoon

"It was just an overall bad afternoon for us, it just all went wrong after we conceded that goal almost at the end of the first half," said a disappointed Vassel Reynolds, coach of the Wolmer's team.

"The guys just really lost their shape and, more importantly, I think we just lost our discipline," added Reynolds, who also saw the captain of his team, Nicholas Beckett, ejected in the 92nd minute for a rash challenge.

Calabar coach David Hunt was glad for the win which gave the defending champs a solid start in the group and three valuable points.

"It was a very tough game. We have been battling Wolmer's for the past few years so it's good to come out on top here again today," Hunt said.

"We are happy for the three points. We were looking for another goal to inch ahead of (Norman) Manley, it didn't come but we are very satisfied with today's result," he said.

Good flank work

Two first half goals by Romario Campbell and Rushane Berry were good enough for Norman Manley as they got by Waterford.

Campbell was able to profit from excellent work down the right flank by Nicholas Anderson, who sprinted to the byline before cutting back for the striker, who then did well to curl high to the right of Waterford custodian Peter Harrison in the 34th minute.

Anderson would again figure prominently in the second goal, but this time his looping cross from the flank was headed in powerfully from close range by Berry on the stroke of half-time.

Calabar and Norman Manley now move to the top of the group with three points, while Wolmer's and Waterford are yet to get off the mark.

Wolmer's 0 Calabar 2

Waterford 0 Norman Manley 2