Livingston Scott, STAR Writer

Hydel High jumped to the top of Group I after scoring a 3-0 win over Denham Town in their opening second-round FLOW-ISSA Manning Cup game at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

Nicholas Nelson led the Ferry-based team with a brace (6th and 44th), while Stephen Barnett netted the other a minute before the break.

In the opening game of the double-header, Innswood and Camperdown played to a 1-1 draw. Hydel lead the group with three points, followed by Camperdown and Innswood with one each.

In the feature game, Hydel turned in a slick performance. Nelson slotted home a loose ball from inside the box after six minutes to make it 1-0. Burnett made it 2-0 on his second attempt after his penalty was saved on 29 minutes, and Nelson sealed the win with a volley on 44 minutes.

The result was a good one for Hydel said coach Geoffrey Maxwell.

"In the second round the most important thing is to qualify and our aim is to win and play tactically depending on our opponents," he stated.

In the opening match, Innswood got a fortuitous lead when Nelson's harmless looking shot slipped under goalkeeper Kristoff Samuels and into the goal. After the break, it was all Camperdown, but their equaliser also came from a bit of fortune.

Four minutes into the half, Camperdown made a long throw into the area and Jerue Ebanks put the ball into his own net.

Camperdown wasted a number of chances to get full points with Brown, Malik Douglas (Man of the Match) and André McCatty all failing to put away easy opportunities.

Yesterday's scores

Group I

Hydel 3 Denham Town 0

Camperdown 1 Innswood 1

Today's matches

Group J

1 p.m.: St George's College vs Haile Selassie

3 p.m.: St Jago vs Kingston College

Both matches at Spanish Town Prison Oval.