Full slate of 41 games on today, weather permitting
MAY PEN, Clarendon — Seven more schools, including former champions Glenmuir High and Herbert Morrison Technical, can book their places in the second round of the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football competition today with a full round of 41 games across all 15 zones, weather permitting.
The competition has had several interruptions caused by heavy rain or waterlogged fields, and with the weather forecast being for more rains this weekend games could be affected.
Glenmuir High, Herbert Morrison Technical, Little London High, B B Coke High, St Mary High, St Mary Technical and Paul Bogle High can all make progress and join the 11 teams that have already booked one of the 32 places available in the next round.
Additionally, two schools — defending champions Rusea’s High and Cedric Titus — which have already advanced can win their zones with just a draw each, while the winner of the Zone K game between joint leaders Dinthill Technical and Charlemont High will get the inside lane to be the zone winners.
Charlemont High might be forced to win today as Dinthill Technical has a mammoth goal difference of 36, 22 more than Charlemont High, and could still win the zone if today’s game ends in a draw like the first round.
The 11 schools that have already secured their second-round place are Cornwall College, Rusea’s High, Cedric Titus, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), Manchester High, Clarendon College, Lennon High, Dinthill Technical, Charlemont High, Port Antonio High and Garvey Maceo High.
Glenmuir High and Denbigh High are battling for second place behind Garvey Maceo, and a win for the former champions over Winston Jones High and a loss or draw for Denbigh against last-placed Cross Keys would see them advancing.
Herbert Morrison are having their best season in three years and a draw at Holland High today would see them getting out of the first round for the first time since the 2015 season.
They are on 15 points, five more than third-placed Holland High who they edged 1-0 in the first round.
Herbert Morrison battered William Knibb Memorial 6-1 on Wednesday, rebounding from their 2-4 loss at home to Cedric Titus, who only need a draw at William Knibb to win Zone C.
Little London High can advance past the first round for the third-straight year with a win over Petersfield High in their top-of-Zone D clash.
The first-round game had ended in a 1-1 draw and Little London lead with 14 points from seven games, three more than Petersfield High who have a game in hand.
Manning’s School are on a roll, scoring seven of their 12 goals in their last two games to be on 10 points, and if they beat Knockalva Technical today would be in the race for a place in the next round as well.
B B Coke High are well positioned to advance to the second round for the first time since 2013, if they can beat last-placed deCarteret College in Zone F.
B B Coke are on 18 points, four behind qualifiers Manchester High and four more than Mile Gully High, and should have enough to get past deCarteret College who have conceded 26 goals so far, the most in the zone.
In Zone J, leaders St Mary High can advance for the first time in six years, while St Mary Technical could join them for the third-straight year with wins against Tacky High and Brimmervale High, respectively.
St Mary High lead with 19 points and have won their last two games, while St Mary Technical, winners of the zone the last two seasons, are coming off an upset loss, beaten by Carron Hall High for the very first time.
A point against joint second-placed Morant Bay would be enough to see Zone O leaders Paul Bogle High advance, while a win would see them take zone honours.
Defending champions Rusea’s High are one of three teams seeking a ninth-straight win, and a point against second-placed Frome Technical would be sufficient to win Zone B.
Rusea’s are coming off a 10-0 demolition of Merlene Ottey on Thursday and after beating Frome Technical 3-0 in the first round, will be seeking back-to-back wins over the Westmoreland school.
Cornwall College are also seeking a ninth-straight win in Zone A and have won the zone already after beating Anchovy High 4-2 on Wednesday, but face arch-rivals St James High, who are battling for the second spot.
Three schools led by St James High — who scored four second half goals against a disorganised Maldon High Wednesday — and are on 16 points and in the race for the second place from Zone A.
Green Pond are in third place on 13 points but face a dangerous Anchovy High team in a game that either team must win or face elimination from second-round consideration.
Today’s games
Zone A
Cornwall vs St James
Green Pond vs Anchovy
Maldon vs Irwin
Zone B
Frome vs Rusea’s
Merlene Ottey vs Cambridge
Hopewell vs Green Island
Zone C
Spot Valley vs Muschett
William Knibb vs Cedric Titus
Holland vs Herbert Morrison
Zone D
Little London vs Petersfield
Knockalva vs Manning’s
Zone E
Munro vs STETHS
Maggotty vs Newell
Lacovia vs Sydney Pagon
Zone F
Manchester vs May Day
B B Coke vs deCarteret
Belair vs Mile Gully
Zone G
Holmwood vs Christiana
Knox vs Alston
Spalding vs Troy
Zone H
Lennon vs Kellits
Clarendon College vs Edwin Allen
Zone I
Iona vs Oracabessa
Marcus Garvey vs Brown’s Town
Zone J
Brimmervale vs St Mary Tech
Carron Hall vs Guys Hill @ Tacky High
St Mary High vs Tacky High
Zone K
Dinthill vs Charlemont
McGrath vs Tacius Golding
Ewarton vs Bog Walk
Zone L
Port Antonio vs Fair Prospect
Horace Clarke vs Titchfield
Annotto Bay vs Happy Grove
Zone M
Glenmuir vs Winston Jones
Bellefield vs Garvey Maceo
Cross Keys vs Denbigh
Zone N
Porus vs Central
Kemps Hill vs Vere
Zone O
Robert Lightbourne vs St Thomas
Morant Bay vs Paul Bogle
Yallahs vs Seaforth