MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Title favourites Hillstars FC are through to the semi-finals of the JB Rum/Captain’s Bakery Manchester Major League with three games to spare, following a comfortable 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Kendal at Kirkvine on Sunday.

The victory, their fifth on the trot, was secured with goals from Jermaine Green (43rd), Delroy Johnson (46th) and Rushane Blair (89th).

With the result, the Spalding-based team increased their tally at the top of Zone Two to 30 points, six clear of second-placed Downs, and 10 ahead of Comfort in third. And with just three games left in the preliminary round, only Downs can surpass them in the race for the semis.

Kendal (11 points) were losing for only the fourth time this season, but, with a league-high eight drawn games, have found themselves in a relegation scrap with another former champion, Mile Gully, who moved within a point of safety following a 0-0 stalemate with Ricam Academy (15) at Brooks Park.

Meanwhile, Downs dented Comfort’s semi-final hopes while advancing their own cause after emerging 2-0 winners in their six-pointer at Kirkvine.

Gary McDonald, scoring his fourth goal in two games, and Damion Anderson were on target for Downs.

The south Manchester outfit, with their fourth successive victory, moved four points clear of Comfort and are now favoured to secure the last semi-final spot from Zone Two — a feat they can achieve in mid-week should they beat Ricam and should Comfort drop points against Kendal.

Over in Zone One, the race for the two semi-final places remains intriguingly poised, with only three points separating the top four teams. The picture should, however, be a bit clearer by Tuesday evening when the quartet returns to action in a triple-header at Kirkvine.

At 5:00 pm, leaders Georges Valley (19 points) play bottom-placed Alligator Pond on Field B, while Greenvale (16) oppose New Green on Field A. Second-placed Porus (18) and Villa United (16) will clash at 7:00.