Hydel's Jonthe Brown (back) goes up for a header with St Andrew Technical High School Kevaughn Robinson during their ISSA/LIME Manning Cup.

Hydel and Ascot will engage in a tough top-of-the-table clash in Group A of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/LIME Manning Cup football competition at Ascot High field in St Catherine today, starting at 3:30 p.m.

The Geoffrey Maxwell-coached Hydel lead the group on 19 points, from eight games, closely followed by Ascot (17) and Calabar (16) as the teams in contention for qualifying spots to the next stage.

With two sets of games remaining in the group's preliminary stage, a victory for last year's beaten finalist Hydel will cement their spot in the next stage of the competition.

"We were hoping to seal our spot last Friday but lost (1-0) against Calabar and now it is very important for both teams to win tomorrow (today). In addition to a berth in the next round, a Walker Cup knockout automatic spot is at stake," Vassell Reynolds, Hydel assistant coach, told STAR Sports yesterday.

playing well

Hydel have been playing well and their only loss so far this season came three days ago. Now they will be looking to return to winning ways, with captain and leading striker Giovanni Green, who has scored seven times so far, as well as Stephen Barnett, Tafarel Crosdale, Rohnako Allen and Jallel Chamberlain.

Ascot coach Elton Johnson is fully aware that his team must beat Hydel to have a firm chance of advancing to the next stage.

"Well, the game is very important, seeing that Calabar beat Hydel. We just have to do what we have to do playing at home. We have an advantage as the boys are confident knowing that we had beaten Calabar and Hydel lost to Calabar," Johnson said.

In another game, Calabar are favoured to beat out of contention Edith Dalton James High and improve their chance of advancing to the next round.

TODAY'S GAMES

Group A

Calabar vs Edith Dalton James

Ascot vs Hydel

Jonathan Grant vs StATHS

Group B

Waterford vs St Jago

Excelsior vs Cumberland

Haile Selassie vs Norman Manley

Group E

Bridgeport vs Jamaica College

St Andrew College vs Ardenne

Jose Marti vs Tivoli

Group G

St Mary's College vs Holy Trinity

Campion College vs Innswood

Trench Town vs Meadowbrook

Home teams are named first and all games start at 3:30 p.m.