Six-star Excelsior thrash Mona in Manning Cup

Defending champions Excelsior High threw down the gauntlet Saturday, dismantling Mona High 6-1 in Group 1 of the ISSA Manning Cup round of 32, while Jamaica College (JC) scored a stoppage time goal to earn a 2-2 draw against Tivoli Gardens High at the Ashenheim Stadium. It was a statement win by Excelsior as coach Keon Broderick had promised to use their recent expulsion from the Champions Cup by ISSA as motivation in the Manning Cup. Kevin Deacon opened the floodgates in the 13th minute before Carleon Cavalier doubled the lead in minute 25. Damarley Williams netted a brace in the 30th and 54th minutes, while Habbie Mohammed (39th) and Christopher McDonald (45+1) completed the rout.

Mona High Coach Craig Butler contemplates his next move after a heavy defeat to Excelsior High in the Manning Cup on Saturday, October 31, 2026. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

The talented Sean Leighton scored a consolation goal for Mona in the 87th minute. Excelsior's coach Keon Broderick said it was a good statement win. "One of the things that we want to show is that we have a complete programme," said Broderick, as he made reference to two players that were ruled out as ineligible. "So even if we are down one or two persons, we still have quality on the field to display in such a good way that we can score six goals and win a game against a quality team like Mona," he pointed out. However, Broderick admitted that he didn’t expect to brush aside the Craig Butler-coached Walker Cup finalist that easily. "Really and truly, I was telling the boys that it was going to be a competitive game. I did not know that Mona High after concealing a couple goals would have dropped. But credit must be given to us as well because the type of football we played to score the third, the fourth, the fifth goal in the first half was really good quality," said Broderick. He continued: "And so I'm not going to take anything away from the boys in how they played. But I really believe that it was going to be one of the more challenging games in the round. But our quality would have shown today and we are absolutely relieved that we were able to play".

Samaure Taylor of Kingston College commits a foul against Astley Montaque of Vauxhall High during their ISSA Manning Cup match played at Stadium East in Kingston on Saturday October 31,2026. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Excelsior jumped to the top of Zone 1 with three points as St Catherine High and St George's College played to a 1-1 draw for one point each. In Zone 4, JC battled to a disappointing 2-2 draw Tivoli Gardens in a game they looked down and out while trailing 1-2 heading into stoppage time. The other Zone 4 encounter between home team Eltham High and Norman Manley High was not played because of heavy rains. Meanwhile, in Zone 2, Walker Cup champions Kingston College beat Vauxhall High 3-1 behind two goals from top marksman Deshawn Byfield and one from Ryland Fray-Campbell. KC lead the zone ahead of Calabar High which edged Camperdown High 2-1. In Zone 3, Wolmer's Boys turned up the heat, thrashing St Jago High 4-1 as did St Andrew High School who clobbered Hillel Academy 6-0 to go top of the zone on goal difference.