By Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

Defending champion Bridgeport and Waterford High kicked off the second round of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup competition with victories over Eltham and St. Andrew Technical (STATHS) respectively, at Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

In the St. Catherine derby Waterford, led by a brace from Mark Walters, defeated Eltham 2-1. Walters scored his goals in the 49th and 82nd minutes, while Shevon Brown scored the consolation goal for Eltham in the 64th minute.

Bridgeport blanked STATHS 2-0 in the feature match through goals from Andre Clennon and Theo Brown.

Floyd Coke, coach of Waterford, was pleased with their victory.

"Yes, I am satisfied, but I think that we also made too many mistakes in some parts of the game because at one point we had them on the back foot then we allowed them to get back into it," said Coke.

"Eltham is a good team," he added. "We knew this but I think that we had the measure of them because we were quicker to the ball and we also had quicker players than them."

Bridgeport dominated the feature match from the opening whistle and were finally rewarded in on the stroke of half-time, when Andre Clennon scored from a well-placed cross supplied by former Under-17 player, Andre Steele, past goalkeeper Kenroy Coombs.

Five minutes into the second period, Bridgeport's Adrian King came close to doubling his team but his point-blank shot was well saved by Coombs.

STATHS' Akeem Simpson came close to giving his team the equaliser 10 minutes from time, but with goalkeeper Geovannie Smith at his mercy, he shot wide of the target.

Theo Brown then put the issue beyond doubt in the dying moments when he converted a penalty kick, this after Steele was brought down inside the 18-yard box by Coombs.

Anthony Patrick, coach of Bridgeport, said: "It wasn't an outstanding game by my team today but nevertheless, we won two-nil and that is important for us at this stage of the competition.

"I think we fought very hard ...this is a very good start to the round for us and we just have to continue from here on."

Meanwhile, Keith Nichols coach of STATHS, blamed the referee for his team's demise.

"It was poor officiating," said Nichols. "However, we can't blame the referee for the inefficiency because my players got a few chances in the first half and didn't put them away.

"We just have to go back to the drawing board and look at the mistakes that we made in the game and make sure that we come good in our next game against Jamaica College on Saturday."

The competition continues today with two matches at the Stadium East field. Wolmer's face Jamaica College at 1:30p.m. and Excelsior tackle Camperdown at 3:30p.m.