FROME, Westmoreland — Two top-of-the-table clashes will highlight today’s second set of matches in the quarter-final round of the ISSA/FLOW daCosta Cup football competition.

Clarendon College, one of the title favourites, are set to go up against surprise package Little London at Frome Sports Complex, while defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) welcome former winners Vere Technical at STETHS Sports Complex in Santa Cruz. Both games are scheduled to start 3:00 pm.

All four teams won their opening quarter-final matches last Wednesday, and with just one game — scheduled for next Wednesday — remaining for each team after today, the race for places to the semi-finals is heating up with just the four group winners set to advance.

The four qualifiers will also advance to the rural area Ben Francis Knockout Competition. Those semi-finals are to be played Tuesday, November 15th with the KO final scheduled three days later. Thereafter, teams are expected to resume the chase for the daCosta Cup title.

The other four schools that are also seeking back-to-back quarter-final wins are the undefeated Cornwall College, Manchester High, Rusea’s High and Lennon High.

Clarendon College, Cornwall College and STETHS will be on a high after qualifying for the semi-finals of the FLOW Super Cup last weekend, and will be gunning for the semi-final places at stake in the two rural area competitions.

Despite losing their first-round games, former champions Glenmuir High and Dinthill Technical will seek to revive their own slim chances with wins today, but if they fail to do so their seasons will grind to an end.

In Group S action today, Clarendon College are coming off a big 7-1 win over Excelsior High in the Super Cup quarter-finals and will take their free flowing offence to the Little London team, trying to defy the odds after only getting past the first round as a best third-place qualifier.

Without being flashy or overwhelming, Little London have worked hard and have been rewarded, but they will face their biggest test of the season.

In their previous big test, in the Super Cup, Little London were trounced 0-6 by Wolmer’s Boys’ at Sabina Park, but today they will hope the familiarity with the Frome grounds and the support of home fans will help them pull off an upset.

Creggton Charlton bagged a hat-trick against Excelsior on Saturday and, along with Nicque Daley, will give the Little London defence headaches.

Little London have had good fortunes against Clarendon-based teams this season, beating both Garvey Maceo and Kemps Hill, and will hope Dadrian Davis and Develle Murray can rise to the occasion today.

STETHS and Vere Technical will revive memories of the 1970s and 80s when they square off in a game that could decide the winners of Group R.

Both schools are legitimate contenders and this game could be the most competitive of the day, but STETHS could have the edge playing at home.

The STETHS offence seems to be gelling at the right time, with Demar James and Alex Thompson complementing Jovoney Brown well. They will seek to get behind a Vere defence that has given up just three goals in their last four games.

Ronaldo Thomas, Garrington Baker and captain Shandel Senior are serious scoring threats for Vere Technical against a STETHS defence that has shown some inconsistency.

After escaping a tough examination against Rusea’s High in their Super Cup game on Saturday, the Group P favourites Cornwall College, who were held to less than two goals for the first time this season, cannot afford to let down their guard against an Ocho Rios High team that has defied the odds in their best season in years.

Ocho Rios High have very little to lose and with their backs to the wall could throw caution to the wind as they seek to keep their hopes of a first-ever semi-final place alive.

Cornwall College will take a 16-game unbeaten run, the best in the island this season, into the game and the twin strikers, Jourdaine Fletcher and Peter Lee Vassell will be on the hunt for more goals on a Jarrett Park surface they will be familiar with.

On Saturday, the Dr Dean Weatherly-coached Cornwall gave up their first goal in six games dating back to October 8th when they beat Maldon High 6-2.

In Group Q, Rusea’s High could have their hands full against a wounded Dinthill Technical team that is reeling from internal conflicts that have seen the departure of both Coach Kevin Williams and Manager Andre Hylton.

Whether they can regroup in time is yet to be seen. After scoring 57 goals in 12 games from the first round and the inter-zone round, Dinthill’s goals have dried up and they have failed to score in their last two outings — a Super Cup first-round loss to Bridgeport High and a quarter-final defeat to Lennon High last week.

Meanwhile, semi-final dark horses Lennon High could take over the sole leadership of the group when they take on Paul Bogle High at York Oval.

Paul Bogle High were unlucky to lose to Rusea’s after taking the lead early at Jarrett Park, and could give Lennon a good run for their money today.

Manchester High will be seeking to keep their hopes of advancing alive and will host a young, but dangerous Glenmuir High team at Manchester High.

The Andrew Edwards-coached Manchester escaped with a 1-0 win over Ocho Rios at Drax Hall last week, while Glenmuir were beaten by Cornwall College 2-0.

Games today

Cornwall College vs Ocho Rios @ Jarrett Park @ 3:00 pm

Manchester vs Glenmuir @ Manchester High @ 3:00 pm

Dinthill vs Rusea’s @ Dinthill Tech @ 3:00 pm

Paul Bogle vs Lennon @ York Oval @ 3:00 pm

St Elizabeth vs Vere @ STETHS @ 3:00 pm

Petersfield vs Fair Prospect @ Frome Sports Club @ 1:00 pm

Little London vs Clarendon College @ Frome Sports Club @ 3:00 pm

Steer Town vs Spot Valley @ Drax Hall @ 3:00 pm