Calabar High's Shane Franklin (left) and St Catherine High's Travis Henry jostle for possession during their Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup Group A match yesterday at the Calabar playing field. Calabar won 2-0. - Gladstone Taylor

Jerome Waite, coach of Charlie Smith, says while he is happy with the fact that his team is winning, he is not pleased with their overall performance, and hopes in the games to come he will see a gradual improvement.

The Arnett Gardens-based institution defeated group rivals Ascot 4-0 at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in the ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup action yesterday to remain in pole position in Group C.

They lead the group with 19 points, five ahead of Ascot, with Wolmer's Boys, who clobbered Haile Selassie 9-0 at Heroes Circle in third on 11 points.

"I think the team is about 45 per cent ready," said Waite.

"We are about halfway where we want to be in terms of our physical conditioning, there are still a lot of technical deficiencies that need to be sorted out, and tactically there is always room for improvement.

"But it is a learning process for most of the players, and we still have a couple more group games to work on these things and try and improve," he declared.

Charlie Smith, who last won the title in 1995, were led to victory on a goal each from Michaelos Martin, Omarley Pryce, Andrew Allen, and influential captain, Javoni Simms.

Martin opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he headed home, much to the delight of his team's vocal supporters.

The score was then increased two minutes before half-time when Pryce, given room just inside the 18-yard box, let fly a grounder which beat the otherwise outstanding Shamoya Morgan in goal for the boys from Portmore.

A 2-0 lead then became 3-0 in the 53rd minute when Allen side-footed home from inside the area, and in the 66th minute the score was made impressive when the left-footed Simms converted from the penalty spot.

In other results, Calabar joined Kingston College as early qualifiers for the second round of the competition after recording a 2-0 win over St Catherine at Red Hills Road, while the group's other matchup, Greater Portmore versus Holy trinity was rained out.

Over in Group E, Meadowbrook kept their slim hopes of qualifying alive after recording a 3-2 win over Tarrant, Innswood surprised Spanish Town 1-0, while the game between St George's College and Edith Dalton James was also rained out.

Calabar High's Chevvone Marsh (right) heads the ball ahead of St Catherine High's Romaine McLean, during their Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Gatorade/Digicel Manning Cup Group A football match yesterday at Calabar. Calabar won 2-0. - Gladstone Taylor