Bridgeport dent George's hopes

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

DEFENDING champions Bridgeport severely blighted the chances of St. George's advancing to the second round of the ISSA/-Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup when they beat the hosts 2-0 at Winchester Park yesterday.

The win puts Bridgeport (16) at the top of the table on goal difference.

They are followed by St George's (16), but have a game in hand, while Norman Manley (14), in third, have two matches to play.

Positive start

With just two games remaining, the Light Blues would have to beat Norman Manley at Tinson Pen and then hope for unlikely wins or draws for the group favourites in their remaining fixtures.

Bridgeport got off to a positive start when crafty Adrian King blasted the visitors into the lead from close range in the 24th minute. King slipped through on goal after some quick Bridgeport passes saw him break into the 18-yard area firing past George's custodian Geovannie Smith.

With rain clouds beginning to loom, the title holder's top striker, Andre Clennon, hit a thunderous effort to beat Smith on the stroke of half-time.

Bridgeport Darren Mattock's turnaround effort from 10 yards away had come crashing back off the crossbar but only as far as the feet of Clennon.

Despite damp conditions, George's could have got back in the game had substitute Carl Brown's well-struck effort not been headed off the line by astute defender Jason Watson.

Shammar Shelton then hit the back of the net in the 80th minute for what would have been a consolation effort, but the pass by striker Kemal Malcolm was deemed to have been made when the player was offside.

Crucial win

"We played very well. We took the game early and that was the plan because we haven't been able to train due to the weather," said Bridgeport coach Anthony Patrick. "This win was crucial because it puts us in a comfortable spot to advance to the second round."

A disappointed Neville Bell, coach of St George's, thought his team was just outplayed.

"We gave up two soft goals, I thought we played a better second half, but they were tougher today so they deserved the game," he said.

Yesterday's results

Group A: Waterford 13 St Mary's 0, Innswood 1 Jamaica College 2,

St. Jago 0 Tivoli 0.

Group C: Wolmer's 5 Kingston Tech 0, Campion 0 St Catherine 1.

Group D: George's 0 Bridgeport 2, Ardenne 2 Penwood 3.

Group E: Charlie Smith 0 Greater Portmore 0, Ascot 0 Denham Town 0, Camperdown 6 Pembroke Hall 0.

Today's games

Group B: Donald Quarrie vs Eltham, Kingston High vs Kingston College.

Group F: Vauxhall vs. Excelsior, STATHS vs Jonathan Grant, Trench Town vs Cumberland.

Today's games

Group B: Donald Quarrie vs Eltham, Kingston High vs Kingston College.

Group F: Vauxhall vs. Excelsior, STATHS vs Jonathan Grant, Trench Town vs Cumberland.