Jamaica College remains on course to defend their ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup title, as they joined Mona High in the quarterfinal round following victories in their respective second-leg Round of 16 fixtures at Ashenheim Stadium on Wednesday.

The Old Hope Road-based boys, who held a 3-0 lead over Eltham High at the end of the first leg, again made light work of the opponents in a 3-1 scoreline for a 6-1 aggregate win.

Jamaica College got their goals from Amarlie King (36^th), Jayd Johnson (37^th) and Jabarie Howell (61^st), while Jevaughn Grant (54^th) got Eltham’s consolation.

Earlier in the curtain-raiser of the double-header, Mona High hammered Jonathan Grant 6-1 on the day for a 10-1 aggregate scoreline, as they too enjoy good form heading into the quarterfinal.

In the feature contest, Jamaica College were always favoured to make good on their first leg advantage, and they could have opened the scoring in the fifth minute had Johnson got a better touch on Howell’s weighted cross into the area.

They did however make amends six minutes past the half-hour mark in a delightful combination play. This, as Dylan John’s weighted cross was played down by Howell for King to fire home his seventh goal of the season from deep inside the 18-yard box.

Before Eltham could catch their collective breaths, they found themselves two-goals down when Johnson got on the end of, and finished off a rebound after Jamoy Dennis’s initial effort from a distance was kept out by goalkeeper Joshua Aitcheson.

With the score unchanged at the break, the “Dark Blues” came out slow on the resumption and that allowed Grant pulled one back for Eltham as Raul Renton in goal for Jamaica College was hesitant in coming to collect the ball.

But the St Catherine-based team’s joy was short-lived as Howell’s well-struck right-footer from a distance burst through the grasp of Aitcheson and restored Jamaica College’s two-goal cushion which lasted to the final whistle.

Winning coach Davion Ferguson expressed pleasure with his team’s effort despite conceding a goal.

“I think we are somewhat disappointed in conceding that goal, we set ourselves a record and so we never wanted to give up that goal. Nevertheless, I think they played well, credit must be given to Eltham I think came here with a very good game plan, but our boys were patient and they eventually found ways to score goals so credit to them,” Ferguson said in his post-game interview.

Eltham’s assistant coach Glenville Holmes believes his youthful bunch gave as much as was expected.

“The truth is Eltham has nothing to be ashamed of. We played the defending champions which was always going to be a tough fixture, but I think the guys did their best and I am super proud of them. They are a very young bunch, they are under 15 years old, and I think in time, they will represent Eltham very well,” Holmes reasoned.

Wednesday's results

Mona 6, Jonathan Grant 1 (10-1 aggregate)

Kingston College 4, Campion College 1 (7-3 aggregate)

Jamaica College 3, Eltham 1 (6-1 aggregate)

St George’s College 3, St Jago 0 (5-0 aggregate)

St Catherine 3, Wolmer’s Boys 1 (4-1 aggregate)

Haile Selassie 1, Tivoli High 1 (1-1 aggregate)

Hydel 3, Excelsior 1 (3-1 aggregate)

STATHS 7, Kingston Technical 0 (11-0 aggregate)