SANGUINETTI, Manchester — Holmwood Technical opened what could be a significant lead in Zone G of the ISSA/Flow daCosta Cup football competition after beating Alston High 3-1 in a top-of-the-zone clash in their return-round game played at the Sanguinetti Community Centre in Manchester yesterday.

Michael Hamilton scored a hat-trick to take his tally to eight goals on the season as Holmwood Technical repeated their first-round scoreline and improved to 14 points the tightly contested group.

With Alston and Spalding High entering the round of rescheduled games on 11 points — the same as Holmwood Technical — both losing, the Dave Anderson-coached Holmwood have opened up a three-point lead with two rounds of matches still to come.

Christiana and Knox are also on 11 points after wins yesterday as well; Christiana outscored Spalding 3-2, while Knox were 1-0 winners over Bellefield High, snapping a four-game winless run.

Wins by Godfrey Stewart High and Maud McLeod threw Zone D wide open with two points separating four schools.

Godfrey Stewart got the better of Manning’s School for the second time this season, edging their Sav-la-Mar neighbours 1-0 at Manning’s, moving into second place on 11 points, one behind the losers who would have advanced to the Inter-zone round with a win.

It was Godfrey Stewart’s first win in three games, while Manning’s were dropping points for the first time in four games.

Maud McLeod edged Little London 1-0 to be on 10 points, the same as Petersfield, with both schools having two games in hand.

DeCarteret College’s three-game winning run ended after they were held 1-1 by Mile Gully in Zone F, as both teams battled to join zone winners Manchester High.

DeCarteret are on 16 points and Mile Gully 14, both with two games remaining.

It’s a three-team race in Zone I after Brown’s Town High edged contenders York Castle 1-0, while Steer Town’s slim chances of advancing ended after being held 1-1 by Cedric Titus.

Brown’s Town’s win took them to 17 points, two behind leaders Marcus Garvey and three more than York Castle with each team having two games to play.

Results from yesterday

Zone D

Manning’s 0, Godfrey Stewart 1

Maud McLeod 2, Little London 1

Zone F

Mile Gully 1, deCarteret 1

Zone G

Alston 1, Holmwood 3

Christiana 3, Spalding 2

Bellefield 0, Knox 1

Zone H

Lennon 1, Clarendon College 1

Zone I

York Castle 0, Brown’s Town 1

Steer Town 1, Cedric Titus 1