Excelsior, Norman Manley look for winning starts

Perennial contenders Excelsior and Norman Manley will look for winning starts against Tivoli and Wolmer's respectively, when Group Three of the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning second round gets under way at the Constant Spring Sports Complex today.

Having both suffered defeats in the Walker Cup last week, both teams will be looking to get back on track with a strong start to the second phase of the competition.

Despite topping Group C of the preliminary round, Excelsior, listed by few as darkhorse favourites to lift this year's title, could have their hands full with a determined Tivoli team.

Tivoli second

Tivoli finished second behind Bridgeport in a competitive Group B, managing to hold the St Catherine favourites to a draw on two separate occasions. That fact has not been lost on Excelsior coach Leebert Halliman, who admits that his team will have to be wary of their west Kingston opponents. The coach also admits that Excelsior are at less than their best, the squad having to deal with a few injury problems.

"I don't know anything much about my opponents tomorrow, but they always play some good football and they must be a good team competing and having advanced from a group with Bridgeport in it," Halliman said.

"We have experienced a few setbacks in terms of injuries and have had to take disciplinary action with a few players, because it's not win at all cost for us, however that being said, we will be looking to live up to our motto, to go out there and give it our best shot," he added.

Norman Manley top group d

Group D winners Norman Manley will also have to be on their guard against Group E runners up Wolmer's, a team that finished behind title holders St George's and split the head-to-head meetings between the teams.

Norman Manley will also be looking to shake off the disappointment of a tough Walker Cup loss to Jamaica College, especially their unfortunate captain Ramone McGregor, who scored an own-goal in the encounter.

TODAY'S GAMES

Tivoli vs Excelsior

Constant Spring field 1 p.m.

Wolmer's vs Norman Manley

Constant Spring field 3 p.m.