VERE, Clarendon — Vere Technical will be fighting today to avoid early elimination from second round contention when they host Zone N leaders Central High in a rescheduled first round ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football game at Vere at 3:30 pm today.

The former champions are trying to avoid missing the second round for the second straight year when they meet Central for the second time in three days after losing their first round second leg game 2-1 on Saturday at Effortville.

Five rescheduled games are set for today as the race for second round places heats up and Green Pond High in Zone A and Green Island High in Zone B will be hoping to improve their chances of finishing second in their respective zones.

If Green Pond fail to beat Maldon, Zone leaders Cornwall College would secure at least second place in Zone A.

St Mary Technical and Paul Bogle High, meanwhile, will be battling for the lead in their zones as well.

Vere Technical had qualified for the second round for four straight years before missing out last year and are in third place in Zone N on five points — from five games — six behind Central High, who have also played five games, and five points behind second-placed Old Harbour High, who have played six games.

Vere Technical and Central High swapped 1-0 wins last season but today the visitors will come into the game on a momentum after their win on Saturday.

Green Pond, who have not advanced past the first round the last three years, are in third place on goal difference in Zone A on nine points, ahead of Anchovy High, behind Cornwall College’s 21 and St James High’s 13.

Green Pond won the first round game 2-1 and will be at home today where they have won two of three games played this season and will be up against a Maldon team that has scored a mere two points from five games played.

In Zone B Green Island will be desperate for a big win over winless and pointless Merlene Ottey High if they are to stay in the race for one of the two automatic qualifying spots.

They are on nine points from five games, 12 points behind leaders Rusea’s and six behind Frome Technical, who they are yet to face.

Green Island have not played since losing 0-2 at home to Rusea’s last Wednesday but had beaten Merlene Ottey High 4-0 in the first round.

St Mary Technical would reclaim the lead in Zone J ahead of St Mary High with a win over Tacky High after they drew 0-0 in the first round.

St Mary Technical are on 14 points, two less than St Mary High with a game in hand and would put pressure on third-placed Brimmervale High, who are on 10 points.

Paul Bogle High could move to within a win of securing a place in the second round when they go to Yallahs High in Zone O in the rescheduled first-round game that was washed out.

Paul Bogle beat Yallahs 2-0 last Wednesday at home and with another game set for Wednesday against Robert Lightbourne could wrap up a spot in the second round by then.

Today’s games

Zone A

Green Pond vs Maldon

Zone B

Merlene Ottey vs Green Island

Zone J

St Mary Tech vs Tacky

Zone N

Vere Tech vs Central

Zone O

Yallahs High vs Paul Bogle High