DEFENDING champions John Mills started their defence with a 3-1 win over Swallowfield in the 2013 Salada Foods Jamaica Limited/Delite-sponsored Junior High football competition which kicked off at the Maverley playfield on Tuesday.

The Ransford Spaulding-coached John Mills, however, had to stave off second half attacks from Swallowfield, especially on the right flank, before sealing victory.

Michael Blake in the first minute, Shevorn Malcolm in the 12th, and Najay Connolly in the 50th minute were the scorers for the victors.

Meanwhile, in the second game played at the same venue, goals from Odare Wilson and Davaughn Anderson in the 23rd and 65th minutes, respectively, gave Maverley a 2-0 win over Central Branch.

John Mills’ Spaulding said the team should have won by a much wider margin.

“We were expected to win but they are just 45 per cent prepared as the team has only started training some three weeks ago.”

Seventeen primary, all-age and junior high schools are participating in the football competition. They are divided into four zones with the winners and runners-ups advancing to the second round where they will be divided into two zones of four teams.

The top two teams from the zones will contest the semi-finals, with the winners facing each other in the grand finale, while the losing semi-finalists play off for third place.

All-Age and junior high schools and their respective zones are as follows:

ZONE 1 – John Mills, Windward Road, Shortwood Practising and Swallowfield All-Age.

ZONE 2 – Calabar All-Age, New Day All-Age, Louis Bennett Coverly and Greenwich All-Age.

ZONE 3 – Melrose All-Age, Stony Hill, Maverley, Central Branch and Mico Practising.

ZONE 4 – Seward All-Age, Norman Gardens, Cockburn Gardens All-Age and Constant Spring.