Charlie Smith's Javoni Simms (front) eyes the ball while fending off a Waterford opponent during the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup at Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday. - Ian Allen

Waterford recorded a hard-fought 1-0 victory over former champions Charlie Smith in their opening second-round game, in Group One of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup game at the Prison Oval in St Catherine yesterday.

The Floyd Coke-coached Waterford's lone goal was scored by Andre McFarlane in the 90th minute.

In the group's other game of the double-header, former champions St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) and Eltham played to a dull 0-0 draw.

However, despite the draw, Phillips Williams, coach of STATHS said he was pleased with his team's effort.

"I am happy with the way our guys performed today, because we played a very disciplined and tactical game," said Williams.

"The chances were few and far between. Unfortunately we never put away the few that we got, but I am satisfied with the draw," Williams said.

Glenville Holmes, assistant coach of Eltham, was less than thrilled with the result.

"I think that is a very disappointing result for us, because our aim was to take all three points from this game and we failed to do that."

Eltham dominated the early exchanges, but they failed to capitalise on a number of clear-cut chances, which was offered to them by a very disorganised STATHS defence. Ramiz Gordon, Shawn Elliston and Damion Binns were all guilty of missing open chances for Eltham.

Gevany Howell received STATHS' best scoring chance in the first half, but with goalkeeper Reshawn Dunn at his mercy, his shot went wide of the target.

Both teams failed to create any meaningful scoring chances in the second period, which was a result of the wayward long-range shooting from midfielders and strikers.

The Waterford and Charlie Smith game was an evenly contested match, with both teams squandering a number of open chances in the first half.

However, the St Catherine-based Waterford dominated the second stanza, and were rewarded when McFarlane collected a pass from substitute Theodore Thomas out the midfield. McFarlane then dribbled pass two defenders to unleash a powerful left-footed shot past custodian Sulane Powell.

Coke was pleased with his team's efforts. "I am very grateful for the victory, because we collected three points from it and will put us in good stead for the remainder of the group," he said.

"I think that we still have a lot of work to do, especially with our attackers, because they were really off-key today," Coke added.

Jerome Waite, coach of Charlie Smith, believes his team was undone by a lack of concentration.

"I think that a lapse in our concentration in the final moments of the match cost us the game, because our central defender failed to stuck with his marker and this resulted in us giving up the goal."

In today's opening matches in Group Two at the Constant Spring Sports Complex, Jamaica College tackle Bridgeport at 1p.m. and defending champions St George's College battle Kingston College.