By Richard Bryan, Freelance Writer

Charlie Smith's Kenton Smith (right) looks to get by Kingston Technical's Carlton Braham (left) during their ISSA\Pepsi\JN Manning Cup game at Clan Carthy, yesterday. Charlie Smith won 2-1. - Winston Sill

Zone F daCosta Cup teams in central Manchester bow into action tomorrow with favoured deCarteret College playing away to May Day and Belair hosting Manchester High.

DeCarteret, once the perennial minnows, graduated into recognition last season, topping the zone before reaching within a draw of the semi-finals.

May Day, which got in virtually no pre-season preparation, could be bracing for a goal feast. The team is coached by Los 'P' legend Radcliffe Levy. Retained is top player, Sanjay Wilson, who should figure prominently in his team's overall season ambitions.

Manchester High's progress is likely to generate much interest if only because they are now coached by Barry Watson, considered the parish's most accomplished coach. He told Star Sports he has been given a special mandate.

'Right now, the school believes it needs to improve its image in the competition and I have been given the task to build a three-year programme where possible we can compete to win the competition.'

Belair, with Tony Peart at the helm, got in pre-season training and retained most of the squad which finished third in the group last year.

Zone G, which tasted action on Tuesday, braces for a humdinger between hosts Holmwood and Christiana, while Spaldings, 3-0 winners over Knox, await Porus.

Manchester's slate of games pale in comparison to the mouth- watering match-ups throughout Clarendon. In Group I, Glenmuir, which breezed 4-1 over Vere, could be bracing for a sterner test against Old Harbour, which got a point against Kemps Hill. Garvey Maceo should feel they have the measure of Vere, unless the former giants, at this level, can find resistance playing at home in Hayes. Kemps Hill versus Central High at the York Town oval should carry little interest, but the biggest anticipation surrounds the entrance of Denbigh in their match-up against Lennon at the Four Paths oval.

Denbigh grabbed the early 'thumbs up' from Clarendon fans after beating Glenmuir - albeit on penalties, in the final of a pre-daCosta Cup season tournament. The team reflects the improving maturity of players who reached the rural Under-16 competition two years ago, and won the Under-14 competition, last season.

JC win again

Jamaica College scored their second win in as many games when they blanked St. George's College 1-0 in the 2006-2007 ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup at Winchester Park on North Street, yesterday.

Substitute Elvis Watson stole the show when he was set free by a Keamar Daley pass, which saw him dart through to easily slot by George's custodian, Tabari Wallace, in the 77th minute.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Group A

STATHS 2 Excelsior 3

Waterford 3 Dunoon 0

Group C

Innswood 2 Jonathan Grant 1

Kingston Tech 1 Charlie Smith 2

Group E

St George's 0 Jamaica College 1

TODAY'S GAMES

Group B

Trench Town vs Donald Quarrie

Edith Dalton vs Mona

Spanish Town vs St Jago

Group D

Camperdown vs Kingston High

Tivoli vs Campion

Group F

Ardenne vs Wolmer's

Pembroke Hall vs Kingston College