Jamaica College's Albert Aarons (left) makes a tackle on Bridgeport's Rojey Smith in their ISSA/LIME Manning Cup encounter at Ferdie Neita Park yesterday. JC won 2-0. - Ricardo Makyn

An 89th-minute goal from Colorado Murray carried champions Excelsior High to an exciting 1-0 victory over Cumberland in their Group B encounter in the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/LIME Manning Cup football competition yesterday at the Courtney Walsh Oval.

The win moved the Leebert Halliman-coached Excelsior to 19 points, two ahead of Norman Manley. They are followed by St Jago (16), Cumberland (seven), Waterford (five) and Haile Selassie (four). In the group other games, Norman Manley beat Haile Selassie 1-0 and St Jago edged Waterford 1-0.

Meanwhile, Jamaica College (JC) stayed perfect with eight wins from as many starts with a 2-0 victory over Bridgeport in Group D at the Ferdie Neita Park. The Miguel Coley-coached JC were led to victory courtesy of goals by midfielder Kevin Blackwood and captain Junior Flemming. The victory pushed JC 24 points with two games remaining. Bridgeport remain on 19 points, the same as José Marti, who defeated Tivoli 6-0.

However, Bridgeport have a better goal difference but played one game more than the other teams. JC are also in pole position to secure the automatic Walker Cup knockout spot from the group and need only two more points.

At the Courtney Walsh Oval, Excelsior dominated the match from the opening whistle but they were let down by faulty shooting from their attackers. Kareem Banton, Romaine Hosang and Tevin Jackson who all squandered clear-cut chances.

Excelsior also outplayed Cumber-land in the second half, and were finally rewarded when Murray fired home a spectacular 30-yard shot against the run of play past goal- keeper Dwight Scott.

Halliman said he was pleased with his team's performance. "We really needed these three points and we are so happy for the victory, and thanks to my goal scorer Colorado," said Halliman.

"I think we should have scored from very early in the game but goal scoring have been our problems all season and it played out today," he said.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Group A

Calabar 2, Edith Dalton James 0

Ascot 0, Hydel 1

Jonathan Grant 3, STATHS 1

Group B

Waterford 0 St Jago 1

Excelsior 1, Cumberland 0

Haile Selassie 0, Norman Manley 1

Group D

Bridgeport 0, Jamaica College 2

St Andrew College 1, Ardenne 0

José Marti 6, Tivoli 0

Group G

St Mary's College 1, Holy Trinity 2

Campion College 1, Innswood 3

Trench Town 6, Meadowbrook 1

TODAY'S GAMES

Group C

Denham Town vs Papine

St Catherine vs KTHS

Clan Carthy vs Wolmer's

Group D

Camperdown vs Charlie Smith

St George's College vs Donald Quarrie

Oberlin vs Vauxhall

Group F

Eltham vs Penwood

Spanish Town vs Greater Portmore

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