Race on for D’Cup quarter-finals
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Four match-ups between winners from Wednesday’s first set of games in the Inter-zone round of the ISSA/Gatorade/Digicel daCosta Cup schoolboys’ football will highlight today’s set of 14 games as teams jostle for quarter-final places.
Last year’s beaten finalists St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) will face Lennon High in a Zone Three game at the St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex; Cornwall College and Mannings School will meet in the first game of a double-header at Jarrett Park; Munro College and Manchester High meet in the 3:00 pm game at Kirkvine, while former champions Dinthill Technical and Glenmuir face off at Dinthill.
Meanwhile, defending champions Rusea’s High are fighting for their survival after being shocked 3-0 by Mannings School on Tuesday and will face William Knibb in the second game at Jarrett Park and only a big win can keep them in the race for a place in the next round.
Even a win for Rusea’s might not be enough as a win in the other game could take control out of their hands.
Both Cornwall who lead on goal difference and Mannings will be confident they can win today and take control of the zone.
Control of the midfield will be crucial and the match-up between Mannings’ Melvin Blair and Cornwall’s Ricardo Wilson could dictate the flow of the game.
After coming off the bench to score three goals late in the game, Cornwall’s coach Hopeton Gilchrist might have a decision to make with Alrick Ottey who scored two goals and Tevin Kerr as both players co-ordinated well in the short time they were on the field together.
STETHS have been on a roll since losing away to Munro College in a first-round game and will hope home field will give them the advantage over Lennon who blanked Bellefield 3-0 on Tuesday.
STETHS will be led by top scorer Kehsario Hall who scored twice in their win over Spalding on Wednesday, but will go up against a tough Lennon defence that has conceded les than five goals all season.
Manchester High rebounded well against Clarendon College on Wednesday after losing an early lead against Grange Hill High in the Ben Francis KO semi-finals, and losing that game, could give Munro College a tough fight at Kirkvine.
Dinthill Technical will fancy their chances against Glenmuir at home in what could be a close game in Zone Eight where the winner should go on to take group honours.
After his hat-trick against Kemps Hill in their 4-2 win on Wednesday, Dinthill’s Cleon Pryce will be a marked man by the Glenmuir defence.
Glenmuir havemanaged to slip under the radar so far, especially after losing to Garvey Maceo in the first-round race for zone honours and missing out on a place in the Ben Francis KO.
Meanwhile, three winners from the first set of games — Cedric Titus, Bog Walk and Port Antonio — will be seeking second wins today.
Cedric Titus will travel to Carder Park to face Happy Grove; Bog Walk take on St Mary High in the second game of a double-header at Highgate, while Port Antonio High face York Castle at Drax Hall.
The places in Zone seven are all up for grabs after both games ended in draws earlier this week, leaving all four teams on one point each. Tacius Golding will face a weakened Paul Bogle, while Garvey Maceo and Maggotty will square off in a double header at Jamalco, starting at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm, respectively.
Today’s game
1:00 pm — Cornwall College vs Manning’s @ Jarrett Park,Bellefield vs Spalding @ Kirkvine, St Mary High vs Brimmervale @ Highgate, Tacius Golding vs Paul Bogle @ Jamalco.
3:00 pm — Rusea’s vsWilliam Knibb @ Jarrett Park, Frome vs St. James @ Frome, STETHS vs Lennon @ STETHS, Manchester vs Munro @ Kirkvine, St Mary Tech vs Bog Walk @ Highgate Comm Centre, Happy Grove vs Cedric Titus @ Carder Park, Garvey Maceo vs Maggotty @ Jamalco, Dinthill vs Glenmuir @ Dinthill, Seaforth vs Kemps Hill @ York Oval, York Castle vs Port Antonio @ Drax Hall.