Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Wolmer's Christopher Waugh attempts to get his head to the ball while Norman Manley's Patrick Scott looks on in the ISSA/Digicel/Manning Cup at the Constant Spring Complex yesterday. Wolmer's won 2-1. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

WOLMER'S WERE fast out the gate in the second round of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup Group One with a 2-1 win over Norman Manley at the Constant Spring Complex yesterday.

In the day's other Group One game, Bridgeport and Kingston College (KC) played their way to an eventful 2-2 draw at the same venue. The results see Wolmer's with the early lead in the zone, with Bridgeport and KC tied for second, while Norman Manley are at the bottom of the group.

Always looking likely to be a danger to Norman Manley's back line, Wolmer's leading scorer, Christopher Waugh, gave the Heroes Circle team the advantage in the 44th minute.

Blast from close range

Waugh, however, must have expressed gratitude for the efforts of teammate Atiba Morgan. The diminutive Morgan made the best of sloppy Norman Manley defending before playing the ball into the striker's path and Waugh charged in to blast home from close range.

Following a lively start to the second half, the Wolmerians threatened to pull away from Norman Manley when an unmarked Ashani Fairclough placed the ball past goalkeeper Shawn Lawes in the 54th minute but missed the target.

However, five minutes later, Patrick Scott fired the Maxfield Park-based school right back into the game from the spot after Norman Manley substitute Gavin Douglas was hauled down in the area.

Despite red cards being issued to Morgan and Norman Manley's Kimani Henry, the teams continued to play at a frenetic pace. Manley could have found an equaliser through Dean Ferguson, but the substitute dragged his 70th-minute shot wide of the goal while Waugh failed to extend the lead when he mishit a 79th-minute volley.

"We are very pleased with this result. Three points from the first match was the objective and it is the kind of start you hope for," said Wolmer's assistant coach Vassell Reynolds. "We could have played a bit better ... but we are looking to improve as the round goes on."

In the lead

In the day's other encounter, Mario Martin put KC in the lead against the run of play with his 44th-minute strike.

Bridgeport pulled level on the stroke of half-time with a spectacular solo effort from Adoah Nickle. The North Street team restored the lead when Rohan Roye booted home a deflected shot from the team's leading scorer, Mckaulay Tulloch, in the 59th minute.

Andre Steele ensured his team had a share of the points in the 69th minute when he dismissed his marker before firing past KC goalkeeper Mark Henry at his near post.

At Constant Spring Oval

Tivoli vs Calabar at 1:00 p.m.

STATHS vs Excelsior at 3:00 p.m.

Today's games