SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and six others, including former champions Clarendon College, St James High and Garvey Maceo, are the early qualifiers for the quarter-finals of the ISSA/LIME daCosta Cup football competition after wins in the Inter-zone round yesterday.

Donjay Smith’s hat-trick piloted STETHS to a 3-0 win over Edwin Allen High at the St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex to score their second straight Inter-zone win while cruising to six points at the top of Zone Three.

Manchester High kept pace with STETHS with a 1-0 win over Holmwood Technical at Kirkvine Sports Club to be on six points, as well, but trail on goal difference.

Zhane Reid grabbed a double for Clarendon College in their 4-0 win over Christiana High in Zone Four and opened up a two-point lead over Lacovia High, who beat Mile Gully High 1-0 after missing an early penalty.

St James High and Old Harbour have grabbed their second chances with both hands. After advancing as the best third-placed teams, they have won both games and are on the verge of gaining spots in the LIME Super Cup as Inter-zone round winners.

St James High edged Glenmuir High 1-0 in their Zone Seven top-of-the-zone game at Juici Field as Neil Clarke scored his third goal in two games played.

Old Harbour High and Cedric Titus are the qualifiers from Zone Five after wins yesterday and will clash for the top place on Tuesday.

Old Harbour beat Brimmervale 2-0, while Cedric Titus made it to back-to-back quarter-final places after a similar scoreline over Fair Prospect.

Garvey Maceo High are clear leaders in Zone Eight after outscoring Ewarton High 3-2 at the Bramwell Clarke Complex in Linstead, their second win as they improved to six points.

Godfrey Stewart High rebounded from Wednesday’s loss to Frome Technical with a 6-1 mauling of William Knibb Memorial at Drax Hall in their Zone Two game. Michael Kerr scored twice for Godfrey Stewart, but Green Pond, who won their very first Inter-zone game, clipping Frome 1-0, are the leaders on four points.

Ten-man Cornwall College beat Petersfield 2-0 at Jarrett Park to take the lead in Zone One with Akeem McCarthy scoring both goals in the first half.

McCarthy scored in the 26th and 43rd minutes, the second from the penalty spot, but Cornwall College played the final 35 minutes with 10 after Kymanie Russell was sent off after picking up two cautions in a two-minute span.

In the first game of the double-header, Muschett High are in danger of not advancing after their second 0-0 draw, held by Rusea’s, who had lost their first game on Wednesday.

Rodain Murray scored twice as Dinthill Technical came from behind to beat Oracabessa High 2-1 in their Zone Six game and put themselves in a position to progress.

Kemps Hill High edged Paul Bogle 1-0 as they moved into second place in Zone Eight with four points, two behind leaders Garvey Maceo.