TACKY, St Mary — Dinthill Technical's passage to the Inter-zone round of the ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup football competition was delayed yesterday after they were surprised 1-0 by Tacky High in the return-round game at Tacky.

Dinthill, who were suffering their first loss of the season, needed a win to join St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) as the schools that have already secured their place in the next round.

Tacky, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten run to four games and improved their already slim chances of advancing past the first round for the first time, but are in third place on 14 points, behind Dinthill (16) and Bog Walk (16).

Meanwhile, the first Ben Francis Knock Out spots could be decided today, as wins for STETHS and Spalding High would see them winning their respective zones and locking up the Knock-Out spots as the competition continues with 35 games across all 15 zones.

While Spalding High, winners of seven straight games will have a relatively easier game against last placed Knox in Zone G, STETHS will, however, travel to bitter rivals Munro where their last win came in the 2010 season.

STETHS, who have won the last two KO titles, have a comfortable six-point lead over Munro in Zone F (21-15), both after seven games.

Another eight schools could lock up Inter-Zone spots today — Cornwall College, William Knibb Memorial, Bellefield High, Port Antonio High, Garvey Maceo, Glenmuir High and Paul Bogle will advance with wins, while two-time defending champions Rusea's High and Mannings School can all advance with wins and help from other teams.

Additionally, there will be interesting top-of-the-zone clashes that will give the winners an advantage. Leaders Lennon High and Clarendon College, separated by one point, will meet in a Zone H clash that should be interesting after the two shared six goals in the first round.

Lennon lead with 14 points from six games, one more than former champions Clarendon College.

Zone I leaders Cedric Titus and surprise team York Castle will meet in Zone I that sees the top three teams separated by four points.

Cedric Titus on 16 points won the first game 3-1 and will have home field advantage over York Castle, who are on 13 points.

Paul Bogle High have registered an incredible 630 minutes without conceding a goal and scoring 27, the most by any school so far, cantering to seven straight wins, including two by 8-0 margins.

They will face third place St Thomas Technical, one of two teams that had held them goalless in the first round.

Paul Bogle have won their last four games, however, and will start favourites to win again today.

Cornwall lead St James High on goal difference in Zone A, but should start favourites against Green Pond, who they had beaten 3-0 in the first round.

William Knibb are looking to return to the Inter-zone for the first time since the 2009 season and will go after their fourth win in a row when they host winless Hopewell High in Martha Brae.

Bellefield slipped up with a 2-2 draw against B Coke on Wednesday and will face Cross Keys, another team that has been eliminated from Inter-zone considerations today.

Port Antonio will play away to Titchfield High, who still harbour ambitions of snatching a spot with a late run in Zone L.

Both Zone M spots could be sewn up today by Garvey Maceo and Glenmuir as they will face Foga Road and Denbigh, respectively.