Unbeaten Norman Manley and St Jago will clash today in what promises to be a mouth-watering affair, in one of nine matches in the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup schoolboy football competition.

The two teams are only separated by a point at the top of Group B and will be jostling to ascertain supremacy in a keenly contested zone. The teams will meet at the St Jago playing field in a match-up slated to commence at 3:30 p.m.

Norman Manley are chasing their fourth consecutive win while St Jago will enter the game having only suffered one defeat in their previous five outings.

Good football

"We will playing at home so we will definitely need the three points. They (Norman Manley) have been playing some good football, more importantly they have been winning. It is going to be a very tough game but they can be beaten and we will be doing that tomorrow," said St Jago's coach, Jermaine Thomas.

Norman Manley's team will be depleted with the absence of their captain, Odel Palmer, out on suspension after accumulating three yellow cards. Matters could get worse for them if Lemar Thompson does not recover from injuries to his knee and hand while Dean Phillips is also recovering from an ankle injury.

"I am pretty confident going into the match we have not lost but we are aware that St Jago is a good team but we are going to work hard for the victory," said Norman Manley's coach, Miguel Coley. "I hope the two players (Thompson and Phillips) get to play but I won't know until tomorrow."

In the other Group B games, fifth-place Ardenne host Haile Selassie, who are sitting in sixth place while third-place Kingston College entertain Innswood, who they lead on goal difference.

In Group C, group leaders Excelsior will be idle but will maintain their lead as their closest rivals Calabar lie four points adrift. Calabar will host fourth-place Spanish Town, while third-place Trench Town will travel to Campion College. The final match-up in the group will see the two bottom placed teams - Tarrant and Cumberland - meeting each other.

Group F is the third and final group to be contested. Group leaders Eltham and defending champions St. George's College should have an easy day at their office, hosting St. Mary's College and Ascot, respectively, both of whom are yet to secure a point in this season's competition.

Group A