By Robert Bailey and Anthony Foster, reelance Reporters

Nicholas Brown of St. Catherine High (centre) tries to elude the tackles of the Charlie Smith duo of Gillian Pusey (left) and Norman Suppria during their ISSA/JN/Pepsi Manning Cup game at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday. Charlie smith won 4-0. - Ricardo Makyn

Former champions Excelsior and Waterford became the latest schools to qualify for the second round of the ISSA/Pepsi/JN Manning Cup football competition.

Led by Akeem Nelson's hat-trick, Excelsior defeated Tarrant 7-0 to secure their second round berth while Waterford, playing in the same Group (A), beat former champions St. Andrew Technical (STATHS) 2-0 to book their spot.

They joined early qualifiers and three-time champions Charlie Smith, who booked their place on Friday with a 3-0 win over Innswood.

With this victory Excelsior moved to 20 points, two more than Waterford (18) while STATHS remained on nine.

Nelson who scored in the 45th, 47th and 81st minutes of play, was supported by double strikes from Da-Sean Meek and Severo Murray.

Despite the win, Leebert Halliman, coach of Excelsior, who failed to past the first round last year as the defending champions, was not happy with his team's performance.

"It was a very poor game by my team today ," he said. "We squandered too many chances especially in the first half." Halliman explained.

Meanwhile, the contest in Group E continues to intensify as 19-time champions Jamaica College (JC) crushed Cumberland 8-0, joining defending champions Calabar on 15 points.

Sixteen-time champions St. George's College, who trashed Oberlin 15-0, moved to 12 points, three behind the leaders.

Kemal McMaclon and Sheamar Shelton scored four goals each for the North Street-based team. Leonard Walker with a hat-trick, along with a goal each from Christopher Johnson, Aaron Spence, Judmair Holloway added to the tally.

Yesterday's results

Charlie Smith 4 St. Catherine 0

Excelsior 7 Tarrant 0

Waterford 2 STATHS 0

St. George's 15 Oberlin 0

JC 8 Cumberland 0

Dunoon 5 St. Mary' College 1

Today's Games

Group B: Mona vs. Norman Manley, Edith Dalton James vs Spanish Town.

Group D: Meadowbrook vs. Eltham, Kingston High vs. Tivoli.

Group F: Kingston College vs. Ardenne, Bridgeport vs. Wolmer's.