Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter 
CARLINGTON WILMOT, Freelance Photographer -
Norman Manley's Michael Deacon stumbles while tussling for the ball with Spanish Town's Orlando Webb, during their ISSA Pepsi/Sports Plus Manning Cup game at Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday. Spanish Town won 1-0.
NORMAN MANLEY'S bid to further their semi-final finish in last year's ISSA Pepsi/Sports Plus Manning Cup almost certainly went out the window yesterday when they lost 0-1 to Spanish Town at the Prison Oval yesterday.
Spanish Town's goal came in the 38th minute via the boot of Marvin Francis.
The loss means that Tivoli, who are now on 14 points and Spanish Town, who are on 13, can almost guarantee that they will qualify ahead of Norman Manley, who with five points can only get to a maximum of 14.
Norman Manley's veteran coach, Alrick Clarke, was obviously disappointed and blamed indiscipline for his team's position.
"I think the discipline broke down and that is what is causing us to be in this position. It will take a miracle to go through from this point because we can only get a maximum of 14 while Tivoli have three games to go and Spanish Town have Cumberland," said Clarke, who was still trying to come to grips with the reality of his situation.
The only bright spark for the Norman Manley team was the inclusion of the four feet-something tall youngster, Romario Campbell, who delighted in the second half when, despite his diminutive stature, he showed enterprise, vision and a ton of composure, something that was missing from the entire team.
Norman Manley, despite possessing the ball for the majority of the game, didn't look likely to score and looked less of an attacking force than their opponents, who in patches showed that they were a team that can pass the ball around the park in a delightful manner.
Spanish Town's coach Cecil Thomas, said: "To be honest our guys didn't play as was expected. We made one change to the team and we didn't get what we expected from it. In the first half it was sloppy and we got back on track in the latter part. However, I am grateful for the one-nil victory and I have to give a lot of respect to 'Manley," Thomas commented.
