SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — St Elizabeth Technical’s mettle will be tested this afternoon when they host leaders Lacovia High in what is expected to be a sumptuous game in Zone E of the ISSA/Flow daCosta Cup football competition, set to start at 3:30 pm at the STETHS Sports Complex.

Despite a 6-0 thumping of whipping boys Newell High on Thursday, STETHS are suffering one of their worst seasons in a long time and are in third place on eight points, two behind Lacovia who have a game in hand against second-to-last Munro College at home.

In the previous six seasons, STETHS have been one of the most successful and consistent teams in schoolboy football, and have played in 21 semi-finals and finals, winning one daCosta Cup and four straight Ben Francis KO titles.

In the first round they were held 2-2 by Lacovia and have lost to BB Coke and drawn against Maggotty and will have to dig deep if they are to advance to the next round.

Failing to get out of the round would be a calamity for the proud STETHS sports programme.

Meanwhile, the competition will continue with 34 other games, some the final first-round clashes, but the return round will start in several zones as well.

Four schools will be defending perfect win records led by Manchester High who are going after six straight wins in Zone F as well as former champions Rusea’s High and Glenmuir High and Paul Bogle High.

Manchester High have blazed the first round of Zone F with five wins, scoring 27 unanswered goals in the process.

In the first round they had beaten Cross Keys 4-0 and another lop-sided result is expected this afternoon when the game is played at Manchester High.

Paul Bogle have won their first four games in Zone O and their largest margin (3-0) came against Morant Bay, whom they face again this afternoon.

Rusea’s started slowly with successive 1-0 wins, but then exploded for 11 goals against Cambridge High on Wednesday and will face Merlene Ottey High, who are tied on one point with Cambridge in Zone B.

Glenmuir High have quietly gone about their business in what looks to be a weak Zone M and will end their first-round schedule against Denbigh High who have managed just two goals in two games.

Defending champions Clarendon College return to action after a week off and will face Thompson Town, while Lennon, who trail them on goal difference, will be at home to third-placed Edwin Allen who are a point back.

The going in Zone G is close with all six teams separated by just three points and positions can change at any time.

Leaders Holmwood Technical, on seven points, face third-place Spalding who are a point behind, while second-placed Knox College, also on six points but with a better goal difference, will host Alston. Bellefield High and Christiana High, both on four points, will meet at Kirkvine.

In Zone A, Green Pond’s run of two straight trips to the Inter-zone round could be at risk today when they travel to Irwin High.

After holding Cornwall College to a draw last week, Green Pond were beaten 1-0 by a last-minute penalty kick by St James High and are on one point and must win today if they are to challenge the front runners in the zone.

Godfrey Stewart High could retake the lead in Zone D with a second win over Mannings School today and pass the idle Petersfield on goal difference.

Petersfield lead with 10 points, three more than Godfrey Stewart who are three points ahead of third-placed Maud McLeod.