St George's College's Romario Jones (right) celebrates with his teammate Davion Kelly, after scoring his team's first goal against Edith Dalton James in their ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup match at Winchester Park yesterday. St George's won 11-1. - Ricardo Makyn

A 80th-minute strike from forward D'Andre Smith yesterday enabled Wolmer's Boys' to secure a 3-3 draw against Haile Selassie in their ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup Group C clash at Tinson Pen yesterday.

Coming on as a second-half substitute, the diminutive Smith, who was a handful for the Haile Selassie defenders, fired a shot of beauty from 20 yards out to earn the Heroes Circle-based boys a share of the points after they were 2-0 down.

Haile Selassie first took the lead in the second minute when the lanky but slippery midfielder Stevon Ingram's 35 yard shot flew over the head of goalkeeper Amal Knight and lodged into the back of the net.

Buoyed by their opening salvo, Haile Selassie then began to up the tempo, and in the 17th minute went further ahead when forward Freco Brown scored a grounder from just outside the area.

loose ball

Wolmer's, who started to grow from strength to strength thereafter, rebounded, however, and in the 43rd minute pulled a goal back courtesy of midfielder Shevon Williams who controlled a loose ball in the penalty area and shot home.

But Haile Selassie were not done yet and in the 61st minute restored their two-goal advantage when Williams, left unmarked at the far post, headed home past Knight.

However, determined not to go down Wolmer's answered back almost immediately from the boots of Chris Campbell who capitalised on a goal mouth melee and fired home in the 62nd minute.

It was then left up to Smith to tie the game up, and that he did, much to the joy of his team's travelling supporters, who were heavily outnumbered.

"We have been having problems all season long with the start of our game and today we caught upon a opponent who took advantage," said Wolmer's coach, Ludlow Bernard.

"But it was a good test of our character, as not only did Haile Selassie play well, but their spectators were vociferous."

Haile Selassie coach, Gregory Hall, said he was proud of his team's effort.

potential

"Congratulations to the guys, they really worked hard. We had a game plan and knew that we were capable of getting goals, and it was good to see it happen. It shows that we have potential."

At Winchester Park, former champions St George's College sent out a strong warning to their rivals with an impressive 11-1 win over Edith Dalton James, in their Group E encounter.

The Georgians, who last won the title in 2009, were led to victory courtesy of a four-timer from Kendon Anderson and a hat-trick from Davion Kelly.

Haile Selassie High duo Freco Brown (left) and Stevon Ingram celebrate a goal at Tinson Pen in their ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup Group C clash against Wolmer's Boys'. The game ended 3-3. - Ricardo Makyn

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Haile Selassie 3 Wolmer's 3

St George's College 11 Edith Dalton 1

Meadowbrook 4 Tarrant 0

Innswood 0 Spanish Town 3

Greater Portmore 1 Holy Trinity 2

Dunoon 1 Vauxhall 0

Ascot 2 Charlie Smith 2

TODAY'S MATCHES

Group B

Denham Town vs Tivoli

Waterford vs Hydel

Campion College vs Papine

Group D

Cumberland vs Pembroke Hall

St Jago vs Kingston Technical

Group F

Ardenne vs Norman Manley

Kingston College vs Penwood

Group G

St Mary's College vs Oberlin

José Marti vs St Andrew Technical