OLD HARBOUR, St Catherine — Former champions Vere Technical are the first team to qualify for the Inter-zone round of the Inter Secondary Schools Sports Association/FLOW daCosta Cup football competition after beating Tacius Golding High 2-0 in their Zone N return-round game played at Bodles, Old Harbour, yesterday.

The win was Vere Technical’s sixth in seven games and pushed them to 19 points, ensuring they can finish no lower than second in the zone to take one of the two automatic spots in the Inter-zone round.

Garrington Baker scored his fifth goal of the season and Ryan Hope got the other for Vere Technical, who will make their fourth-straight trip to the Inter-zone round.

At least three teams, former winners Cornwall College, Rusea’s High and Dinthill Technical, could all secure early places in the Inter-zone round with wins as the return-round continues with 19 games today.

Zone A leaders Cornwall College would clinch at least second place if they can beat third-placed Irwin High at Irwin — as they would improve to 21 points.

Cornwall are unbeaten so far, winning all six games played, including a 3-0 win in the first round over today’s opposition, their best start in two years, while Irwin High are in third place on eight points and are coming off a 3-1 win over Green Pond High on Tuesday, their second win of the season.

Irwin High, who are taking orders from former Rusea’s High Coach Anthony ‘Follies’ Williams, are enjoying their best season since 2008, the last time they won two games in the same season, and also the only time they beat Cornwall, 1-0 at Irwin.

Second-placed St James High could also advance with a win at Anchovy High, but would need winless Maldon High to beat Green Pond.

Rusea’s High will play away to a hard-running Green Island team that is also in position to take one of the two automatic places. Rusea’s have won all three games played so far, including a 2-1 win over Green Island in their first game of the season. They have scored 13 goals so far.

Dinthill Technical have also won six games so far, and if they can repeat their first-round win over Guy’s Hill, would secure their place from Zone K.

In Zone M Garvey Maceo, the third team to win their first six games, and Glenmuir High could improve their chances of advancing significantly with wins over Winston Jones High and Porus High, respectively.

Garvey Maceo are on 18 points, three more than Glenmuir, and it is unlikely either of the teams would fail to make it out of the zone.

Manchester High and Mile Gully are in a similar position in Zone F, both on 16 points, four more than third-placed BB Coke High, the only other team with any hopes of replacing one of the two leaders.

Today Manchester play last-placed deCarteret College, the only school of the 87 taking part yet to score a single goal, while Mile Gully will be at Belair High.

Defending champions and Zone E leaders St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) will seek to make it three wins in a row when they take on Newell High in Santa Cruz.

STETHS are on 15 points, four more than second-placed Lacovia, who will host Black River, while Munro College on nine points in third place, face a must-win game at home to Maggotty High.