Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Bridgeport's Andre Clennan (right), eludes a tackle from an Ardenne player during their ISSA/JN/Pepsi Group F Manning Cup game at the Ferdie Neita Park yesterday. Bridgeport won 6-1. - junior dowie

Former Champions Bridge-port drubbed Ardenne 6-1, while last year's surprise package Eltham High thrashed Tivoli 5-0, to get off to hot starts in their respective zones as ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup action continued yesterday.

The Kingstonians had a torrid time on the pitch and found the St Catherine teams from Group F and Group D respectively in a no-nonsense mood.

Theo Samuels got the show on the road for the 2001 champions Bridgeport, when he put Ardenne on the back-foot with a fifth minute strike. Andin Jarrett added another in the 22nd, before Theo Brown fired in quick succession in the 24th and 36th minutes to put the game beyond doubt.

quick goals

Andre Steele and Adrian King added insult to injury for Ardenne when they netted a pair of quick goals in the 54th and 56th, but substitute Shane Coore did manage to find a bright spark for Ardenne with a consolation strike in the 79th.

"We did not see Ardenne do enough today, so we did not play for the whole 90 minutes, nevertheless we were pleased with a 6-1 victory," said Bridgeport coach Anthony Patrick. In the day's other Group F game Wolmer's put away Pembroke Hall 4-0.

Over at Eltham a vastly depleted Tivoli Gardens, last year's Walker Cup Champs, proved to be no match for 2005 Cinderella team Eltham High.

Romaine Linton snatched a late 70th and 71st minute double for Eltham, who could have doubled their score-line with some sharper finishing. Dwayne Hunter had opened the scoring for Eltham on the stroke of half-time, while Shevon Brown also rattled the net twice, in the 55th and 87th minutes. In the day's other action from Group D, Camperdown swamped Meadowbrook 6-0 at home.

Spanish Town beat Mona 3-0 at home, while Donald Quarrie nipped Edith Dalton James 2-1, in Group B action.

Tomorrow's games

Group A

STATHS vs Excelsior

Waterford vs Dunoon

Group C

Innswood vs Jonathan Grant

Kingston Tech. vs Charlie Smith

Group E

St George's vs JC