ST Jago High defied muddy conditions on a poorly manicured field to stun hosts Kingston College, 3-1, in a Group B ISSA Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup schoolboy fixture at North Street yesterday.

Following a goal-less first half in which neither team created much scoring opportunities, the visitors from Monk Street in Spanish Town took the lead through Maurice Markland in the 49th minute.

He literally ran the length of the pitch on the counter attack, after his goalkeeper saved a tame shot from KC's Rohan Roye and punted the ball up-field.

Having taken control of the ball on the left flank, Markland turned his marker before side-footing past advancing KC goalkeeper Renardo Vassell.

Substitute Cruz Frankson doubled St Jago's lead in the 75th minute, tapping home from 12 yards after goalkeeper Vassell fumbled a shot by Akeem Campbell.

An unmarked Markland wrapped up victory for the visitors in the 85th minute by rising high at the back post to head home his second and St Jago's third. Shawn Smiekle, who was fouled on the left flank, supplied the floated free-kick, which resulted in the goal.

Prince Samuels netted KC consolation in the 90th minute, tapping home a right-sided cross supplied by substitute Arsenio Walker.

The victory was St Jago's second in three games, having defeated Jose Marti 3-0 and lost 0-1 to Innswood.

Coach Jermaine Thomas told the Sunday Observer his charges were eager to bounce back following their midweek defeat.

"The Innswood game was the first time we were playing a match at St Jago and the players were a little bit nervous at first and took some time to settle down and that really contributed to us losing there," Thomas explained.

"But we had some motivational speech yesterday (Friday) and the players really wanted this victory over KC and they delivered," he added.

KC were losing their first game of the season, having beaten Ardenne 3-0 in the opener last week, and coach Wayne Fairclough expressed disappointment that his team, which consist of seven national junior players, failed to spark.

"I think we did play as how I though we could have played, but I don't think the underfoot conditions had anything to do with it... Sometime the excellent players don't do anything on the day, but hopefully they can rebound and come again," Fairclough said, noting that it's a matter of the team which plays better on the day that will win.

"I thought they (St Jago) scored three excellent goals and defended stoutly. They attacked in numbers, which we failed to do, and they just played a better game than us," he added.