Jermaine Lannaman, Star Writer

St George's midfielder Carl Reid (left) going past Excelsior's Nicholas Lewis during their ISSA/Pepsi Digicel Manning Cup match-up at Winchester Park yesterday. The match ended 2-2. - Junior Dowie Photo

Home team St George's College and Excelsior High remained unbeaten this season following an exciting 2-2 draw in their top-of-the-table Group E Manning Cup match at Win-chester Park yesterday.

With an automatic Walker Cup knockout berth awaiting the group winners, the two traditional giants produced some thrilling action for all of the 90 minutes and at the end of it all, both kept their impressive unbeaten records intact after five outings.

Biggest margin of victory

In other results, Charlie Smith dished out the biggest margin of victory so far this season, drubbing Tarrant 16-0, Calabar were held 2-2 by last year's beaten semi-finalists Waterford, Spanish Town got the better of Tivoli 3-2, Dunoon clipped Camperdown 4-3, Norman Manley tagged Campion 3-1, Ascot edged Pembroke Hall 3-2, while it was 1-1 between the slightly improving St Mary's College and Donald Quarrie.

At Winchester Park, spectators were treated to a free-flowing game.

Excelsior took the lead in the fourth minute through Valentino Fogo who, left unmarked in the box, rose high to head a good cross past Light Blues' goalkeeper, Jevaughn Lennon.

Vociferous supporters

This, however, did not dampen the spirits of the home team and buoyed by vociferous supporters, they were able to pull level in the 31st minute. Kemar Cummings, lurking idle in the area, capitalised on a failed attempt to gather the ball by Excelsior custodian, Chevron Brown, to fire into an inviting net.

Motivated by the effort and their singing supporters, the 'Geor-gians' then swept into the lead in the 38th minute when standout forward, Kemal Malcolm, let fly a screaming free-kick from 20 yards out, which after trimming the grass, nestled in the net.

Tactical manoeuvres

The attack and counter attacking plays which surrounded the tactical manoeuvres of head coaches Leebert Halliman (Excelsior) and Neville Bell (St George's) then continued in the second half, with Excelsior going close in the 51st through substitute Juvanne Benjamin, and St George's in the 54th through Shammar Shelton, brother of national striker, Luton.

Benjamin, given room to shoot inside the box, blasted his effort high, while Shelton, after showing good dribbling skills, booted wide from an acute angle.

The all-important equaliser was scored in the 58th minute through another Excelsior substitute, Deco Bratt, who from just inside the area, fired home a scorching shot, which squeezed between Lennon and his near post.

"I thought we played well in the first half and had it not been for a soft goal in the second we could have come out on top," said a smiling Bell. "It's a result where you can't really complain as both teams played well."

Few corrections

Halliman, who is one of the co-ordinators of the national Under-20 team, shared similar senti-ments regarding the outcome, but said with a few corrections his team could have done better.

"It was an entertaining game as both teams played good football," he explained. "But it's early days for us as we are a young team and with more matches to come we hope to iron out deficiencies and play much better."

Yesterday's results

Group A

Spanish Town 3 Tivoli 2

Norman Manley 3 Campion 1

Charlie Smith 16 Tarrant 0

Group B

Calabar 2 Waterford 2

St Mary's College 1 Donald Quarrie 1

Ascot 3 Pembroke Hall 2

Group E

St George's 2 Excelsior 2

Dunoon 4 Camperdown 3

Today's Matches

Group C

Vauxhall vs Mona

Jonathan Grant vs Denham Town

Wolmer's Boys vs Jamaica College

Group D

St Jago vs Eltham

Bridgeport vs Jose Marti

Cumberland vs Innswood

Group F

Kingston High vs Edith Dalton James

Penwood vs Kingston College

St Catherine vs St Andrew Technical