Bridgeport Comprehensive High School's Houdane White has his heels clipped as he turns away from Vauxhall High's Dominick Jones during the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup at Vauxhall High School yesterday. Bridgeport won 3-0. - Ricardo Makyn

Last year's Manning Cup beaten finalist Bridgeport High got their campaign off on a winning note when they blanked Vauxhall High by three goals yesterday at Vauxhall High School.

Vauxhall started off the sprightlier of the two teams, showing little rustiness despite a two years absence from the competition. They should have taken the lead as early as the second minute when Kamoy Simpson produced a lovely square to the unmarked Oshane McPherson. He took his time in controlling the ball but then hammered his shot high over the bar from eight yards out.

The home team was soon made to rue the miss as Bridgeport scored with their first attack of the match. Romone Howell got down low to head home an excellent square from Shamarie Shaw in the eighth minute. Bridgeport should have been two nil up three minutes later but Howell missed a simple tap.

Vauxhall struck the upright on the stroke of half-time when Simpson neatly brought down a square on the edge of the six-yard box. He could only manage to strike the post under pressure.

Bridgeport took full charge of the second half, doubling their advantage in the 61st minute when substitute Houdone White crossed to Shaw who back heeled home from five yards out. The scoring was rounded off three minutes later when a goalmouth melee from a short corner saw Adrian Crooks bundle the ball home.

Bridgeport's coach Anthony Patrick was naturally pleased with his team getting off to a winning start.

"Three points is three points although we never got to play as we should today, I think the underfoot condition took a toll," said Patrick.

"In the first half we made a lot of mistakes but in the second half I asked them to start dribbling some more and it made a whole lot of difference," he added.

Vassel Reynolds, coach of Vauxhall, was pleased with his team's showing despite the loss.

"Not the start that we would have liked but I think the guys tried their best," said Reynolds.

"I think we held our own and I don't think the 3-0 margin was a true reflection of the game, but overall I am pretty pleased with some areas of our play today," he added.

Bridgeport High School's Roger Bucknor (left) maintains position despite being fouled by Vauxhall High's Nashanie Clarke, during the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup, at Vauxhall High yesterday. Bridgeport won 3-0. - Ricardo Makyn

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Group B: Jose Marti 2 Tivoli 2, Vauxhall 0 Bridgeport 3

Group D: Mona 0 Norman Manley 3, STATHS 2 Holy Trinity 0, Meadowbrook 1 Penwood 4

Group F: KC 2 Hydel 1, Eltham 4 Campion 0

TOMMOROW'S MATCHES

Group A: Cumberland vs Camperdown, St Mary's College vs JC

Group C: Kingston Tech vs Calabar, St Andrew College vs Excelsior, Papine vs Innswood

Group E: Edith Dalton James vs Ardenne, St Jago vs Donald Quarrie, Spanish Town vs Wolmer's Boys.