Nicholas Scott of Jamaica College (JC) handles the ball as he is challenged from behind by Penwood's Kemar Robinson during the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup schoolboy football match at JC yesterday. JC won 5-0. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Last season's beaten finalists Jamaica College (JC) got their 2009 Manning Cup campaign off to a flying start after registering a 5-0 win over Penwood High at Old Hope Road yesterday.

One of six winners on the day, JC were led to victory on double strikes from midfielder Ashani 'Book Mice' Walker (2nd pen., 47th) and Necas Collins (39th, 82nd), and a goal from Odane Greensword (25th).

Required points

"It was not an ideal showing, but we did what we had to do and came away with the required points," said JC's coach, Alfred Henry, whose charges held a 3-0 lead at half-time.

"We have lost a lot of players from last season and it is a young team. But the boys have a lot of heart, pride and passion and our aim is the second round," he added.

The victory propelled JC to leadership of Group A ahead of Waterford and Donald Quarrie, who played to nil-all draw in Portmore.

The group's other matchup, between Pembroke Hall and Edith Dalton James at Pembroke Hall, was not played due to an unprepared field.

In other results, last season's semi-finalists St Andrew Technical scored a 4-0 win over Papine at Bumper Hall to move to the top of Group D along with Camperdown, who recorded a similar score against Meadowbrook at Michigan Avenue.

The group's other matchup between Wolmer's and Clan Carthy was not played as the latter have withdrawn from the competition.

In the meanwhile, Bridgeport, Tivoli and newcomers St Andrew College won in Group E with 7-0, 2-0 and 1-0 margins, respectively, over Kingston High, Holy Trinity and St Catherine.

The competition will resume tomorrow with another nine matches across groups B, C and F.

Yesterday's results

Group A

JC 4 vs Penwood 0

Waterford 0 Donald Quarrie 0

Pembroke Hall vs Edith Dalton James DNP (Unprepared outfield)

Group D

Wolmer's vs Clan Carthy DNP (Clan Carthy withdrew)

STATHS 4 Papine 0

Meadowbrook 0 Camperdown 4

Group E

Tivoli 2 Holy Trinity 0

St Catherine College 0 St Andrew College 1

Bridgeport 7 Kingston High 0