Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

JC's George Smart shields the ball from a St. Jago opponent during the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup match yesterday at Old Hope Road. JC won 5-0. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

JAMAICA COLLEGE (JC), led by a hat-trick from Robert Palmer, drubbed St. Jago 5-0 in yesterday's round of matches in Inter Secondary Schools Association (ISSA)/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup competition at Old Hope Road.

In the other Group A game, Tivoli and Waterford played to a 0-0 draw. Tivoli lead the group with eight points followed by JC on seven while Waterford and St. Jago are on six points each.

In a Group E encounter yesterday, Camperdown and Charlie Smith played to a 1-1 draw.

Spectacular free kick

Palmer gave JC the lead in the 18th minute with a spectacular 35-yard free kick which went like a rocket through the hands of goalkeeper Ramone Reid.

Five minutes later, Deandre Brown came close to doubling JC's lead but his point-blank shot was well saved by Reid, who dived at full stretch to his left.

Ten minutes after the half-time interval Palmer scored his second goal with another long-range free kick which had Reid well beaten.

George Smart then made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute when he ran by two St. Jago defenders and then calmly slotted the ball past Reid.

Palmer completed his hat-trick four minutes later with a powerful right-footed, long-range effort.

Substitute Anthony Grant scored JC's fifth goal in the 71st minute with powerful volley which took a deflection off a defender and went into the back of the net.

"We didn't play to our thorough potential because we played a very poor game today," said Bychan Bryan coach of St. Jago.

"We also didn't capitalise on the chances that we created today. So we have to go back to the drawing board and work on our mistakes and come better prepared for our next game."

Alfred Henry, coach of JC, refused to speak to the media.

TOMORROW'S GAMES

Group C: Kingston Technical vs Edith Dalton James, Calabar vs Meadowbrook, St. Catherine vs Wolmer's.

Group D: Dunoon vs Haile Selassie, Bridgeport vs Ardenne, Norman Manley vs Penwood.

Group F: Jonathan Grant vs Cumberland, Trench Town vs Excelsior, Vauxhall vs St. Andrew Technical.