Defending champions and hosts Jamaica College (JC) will take a comfortable 3-0 lead into their second-leg encounter against Eltham High in the ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup which will be played at the Ashenheim Stadium today.

Match time is 3:15 pm.

In the opening match of the double-header, Mona will take on Jonathan Grant in their return encounter starting at 1:00 pm.

The Craig Butler-coached side is oozing confidence going into today’s second leg, having outclassed their St Catherine-based opponents 4-0 in the first leg.

“I am happy with the performance, I am happy with the mindset and championship-type of focus that the players have been displaying because they are very unified and they cheered each other when they are on the bench, and so I am feeling very good about this team going into this second leg match,” said Butler.

“It is do-or-die for them [Jonathan Grant] and they will come with as much as they can, but like I have said before, this Mona team has evolved over the last three seasons in to one that is very attacking and we became very creative and very solid in defence, so we can do everything that is needed and therefore there is no weakness in our team,” he added.

Mona, who made it to the semi-finals of last year’s tournament, will be depending heavily on striker Robino Gordon, who has netted 13 goals this season. He is expected to receive support from Denzil McKenzie, Dante Paralto, and Romarion Thomas.

JC, who are seeking their 32nd hold on the Corporate Area’s most prestigious schoolboy football trophy, should make light work of their opponents, especially due to the fact that they will be playing on their home turf this afternoon.

Davion Ferguson, head coach of the Old Hope Road-based institution, stated that while they are confident of victory, he is expecting a tough encounter from the Jonathan Grant team.

“We are going out there to try our best and compete the tie because we are only at half-time and so we just want to finish off the tie and look forward to the next phase of the competition,” said Ferguson.

“We have a very pretty confident bunch of youngsters because they believe in their abilities and they believe in our system and what we are trying to do and they understand what is at stake and so they are always ready for whatever is thrown at them,” he went on.

JC will be depending heavily on the likes of Dyllan John, Javaun Mills, Thierry Garrick and Amarlie King to lead their team to victory.

Meanwhile, St Andrew Technical High School, who are the number one seeded team in this year’s competition, will take a 4-0 lead into today’s return game against Kingston Technical at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex. Match time is 3:00 pm.

Today’s matches

Kingston College vs Campion College @ Stadium East at 2:30 pm

Haile Selassie vs Tivoli Gardens @ Stadium East at 4:30 pm

Wolmer’s vs St Catherine @ Mico at 3:00 pm

Excelsior vs Hydel @ Excelsior at 3:00 pm

St George’s College vs St Jago @ St George’s College at 3:00 pm.