Patrons cram the entrance to Wolmer's Boys' School as they tried to get inside to watch the ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup football match between Wolmer's and Charlie Smith High yesterday at Heroes Circle. The police were forced to fire shots in the air to maintain order. Charlie Smith won the match 4-3. - Ricardo Makyn

St George's College maintained their position as leaders of Group E of the ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup Competition after scoring a 4-0 win over Innswood at Winchester Park yesterday.

The 'Light Blues", who are looking to top the group and thus secure a spot in the Walker Cup Knockout play-offs, were led to victory on a double from Davion Kelly, while Oshane Boote and Romario Jones netted the others.

The victory moved St George's to 13 points, and a win four, draw one record.

They are followed by Spanish Town, who moved to 11 points after defeating Tarrant 4-1 in the old capital.

The group's other game saw Meadowbrook getting the better of Edith Dalton James 3-2 at Meadowbrook.

"We want to win the zone, as we want to qualify for all available titles, and today was a good victory and step towards that," said St George's coach, Neville Bell.

After a scoreless first half, the 'Georgians' were put in front after Jones slotted home from close range in the 65th minute.

The home team then began to get into their groove, and in the 75th minute they increased the lead through Boote, who lurking inside the area capitalised on a goal-mouth melee.

The match was then made safe in the 85th and 90th minute via the bustling Kelly, who twice dribbled down the middle of Innswood's defence line before rounding goalkeeper Daniel Scott.

"We had a plan, and worked at it. However, in the second half, indiscipline in the defence crept in, and we lost it," said Innswood coach, Milford Thomas.

Meanwhile, the day's feature game between Charlie Smith and Wolmer's at Heroes Circle saw the former pulling off an exciting 4-3 win.

There was crowd trouble before the start of the game as scores of fans tried to get into the school compound to watch the game. Police were forced to fire shots in the air to maintain order. Michaelos Martin with a brace led the way for Charlie Smith, while there was a goal apiece by Kemar McGhie and captain Javoni Simms.

Martin scored in the fifth and 89th minute, respectively, McGhie in the 28th and Simms in the 90th.

moral booster

Wolmer's goals were scored by national Under-17 representative Jason Wright (25th), Christopher Campbell (40th) and Dejanni Isaacs (51st).

"Today it was good football from both teams," said Charlie Smith coach, Jerome Waite.

"This is definitely a moral booster for us and you have not seen the best of this team yet and so the best is yet come," he added.

Wolmer's coach, Ludlow Bernard, said the defeat was a very tough one for his team.

"It is really a hard loss to take considering the nature of the game," he said

The win moved Charlie Smith to the top of the group with13 points, two ahead of Ascot 11. Wolmer's are on eight.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Group A

Calabar 5 Greater Portmore 0

Excelsior 3 St Catherine 0

Group C

Wolmer's 3 Charlie Smith 4

Dunoon 0 Ascot 1

Halie Selassie 1 Vauxhall 1

Group E

St George's 4 Innswood 0

Spanish Town 4 Tarrant 1

Meadowbrook 3 Edith D James 2

TODAY'S MATCHES

Group B

Papine vs Tivoli

Hydel vs Denham Town

Campion vs Waterford

Group D

Kingston Tech vs Camperdown

Pembroke Hall vs JC

St Jago vs Cumberland

Group F

Penwood vs Donald Quarrie

Norman Manley vs T Town

Kingston College vs Ardenne

Group G

St Mary's College vs Bridgeport

Oberlin vs STATHS