STATHS playerJamal Alexander (left) looks on as his teammate Kevaughn Robinson tries to tackle Hydel's Tafferell Crosdaley (right) in their LIME/ISSA Manning Cup match at STATHS yesterday. Hydel won 1-0. - Ricardo Makyn

Excelsior, led by a 81st-minute strike from Tevin Jackson, edged St Jago 1-0 to register their second consecutive victory in the LIME/ISSA Manning Cup football competition at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

In the day's other game, last year's beaten finalist Hydel recorded their first win of the season, with a hard fought 1-0 victory over St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) at Bumper Hall.

Stephen Barnett netted the lone goal for the Geoffrey Maxwell-coached Hydel in the 15th minute. The victory moved Hydel to the top of Group A with four points.

Hydel are followed by Ascot and Calabar, who are both on three points with a game in hand. Edith Dalton James (one), also with a game in hand and STATHS and Jonathan Grant, who are still searching for their first point of the round, make up the group.

Maxwell said he was happy with his team's performance because they played well from start to finish.

"It's early going, but I thought we should have won the game by about six to nine goals," said Maxwell. "We got chances like rain falling, but I think overall it was a good performance from us."

Maxwell added: "There was a lot of tension when you have a young team because we have lost about eight starters from last season, but we are happy for the three points."

Hydel dominated ball possession in the early exchanges, and were rewarded when livewire Barnett curled home a beautiful righted-footed 20-yard shot past goalkeeper Owen Dumetz.

Barnett came close to doubling Hydel's lead five minutes later, but with Dumetz at his mercy, his powerful shot went wide of the target. Dean Edwards received STATHS best scoring opportunity in the first half, but his close range effort went wide.

Both teams created a number of clear opportunities in the second half, but poor showing from their attackers let them down.

Today's games

Group C: Clan Carthy vs St Catherine, Denham Town vs Kingston Technical, Wolmer's vs Papine.

Group D: Oberlin vs St George's College, Camperdown vs Donald Quarrie, Vauxhall vs Charlie Smith.

Group F: Eltham vs Greater Portmore, Penwood vs Kingston College.