Jon Grant move closer to second-round spot

A first-half strike from Salim Watson was enough for Jonathan Grant High as they defeated Tarrant High 1-0 yesterday in the ISSA Manning Cup to keep the pressure on in their bid to advance to the second round from Zone B.

Watson scored the all-important goal just before the 40th-minute mark as he secured all three points to keep Jonathan Grant in third place with 14 points, trailing zone leaders and defending Manning Cup champions Mona High with 19.

Jonathan Grant had to work hard for the win as Tarrant, who have now been eliminated at the first round, fought hard to defend their home ground in front of their supporters.

Kemeel Wolfe, head coach of Jonathan Grant, tipped his hat to his opponents who he felt gave a good account of themselves on the day.

“Some of the times when teams are playing without pressure, they are the tougher teams like we saw today,” Wolfe explained after his team’s hard-fought win.

“Tarrant really came out today and played a hard match and they weren’t lying down. They made it a very difficult game for us. You know as they say, it is very difficult when you’re playing a team whose aims are very different.”

Despite the win, Wolfe was disappointed his team was unable to score more goals as he believes the race to the second round might be decided on goal difference.

Jonathan Grant are currently tied on points with Charlie Smith High. However, Charlie Smith sit second in the zone as they enjoy a better goal difference.

With their next game being against Charlie Smith on Tuesday, Jonathan Grant will be hoping for a win to boost their chances of a second-round berth.

“It is always good to win a game as three points on the board is what we aim for in every game. But we also wanted to score more goals to try and get a better goal difference.

“We have to do what we have to do and once we take care of our games, that is all we can do. We always take it one game at a time and if we do that and get the three points each time, then we should be okay for the second round.”

Yesterday’s results

Tarrant 0-1 Jonathan Grant

Waterford 1-4 Mona High

Gaynstead 2-7 Charlie Smith

Cumberland 0-13 Kingston College

Jose Marti Technical 1-0 Penwood

Meadowbrook 0-8 Campion College

St Mary’s College 0-2 Wolmer’s Boys

St Jago 7-0 Edith Dalton James

Today’s games

Holy Trinity vs STGC at Holy Trinity

Dunoon Technical vs Eltham at Calabar

Calabar vs STATHS at Calabar

Camperdown vs Vauxhall at Alpha Institute

Norman Manley vs Papine at Maxfield Park

Ardenne vs Hydel at Ardenne

Kingston Technical vs Haile Selassie at Kingston Technical

Denham Town vs Tivoli Gardens at STATHS

Ascot High vs Jamaica College at Dunbeholden

Excelsior vs Pembroke Hall at Excelsior