GAYLE, St Mary — Annotto Bay High returned to the ISSA/Flow daCosta Cup football competition with a bang, qualifying for the Inter-zone round for the first time since 2009 after their 1-1 draw with Tacky High in their Zone J return-round game played at Tacky yesterday.

After missing last season, Annotto Bay High will play in the Inter-zone round as they are assured of at least second place and only Islington can finish ahead of them.

Four schools in total advanced yesterday, including Marcus Garvey Technical, Fair Prospect High and Kemps Hill High as 14 schools have now secured berths in the Inter-zone round that starts next Wednesday.

While those four were celebrating, two former champions — Frome Technical and Dinthill Technical — must wait at least until Saturday’s final round to secure their places in the 32 after both lost yesterday.

St James High and Paul Bogle, meanwhile, secured their spots from Zone A and O, respectively, after good wins.

At Tacky, Annotto Bay High, who had won the first round game, did enough to improve to 18 points and made sure of their passage through to the next round while three teams are left to battle for the other place on Saturday.

Islington, who beat Brimmervale 1-0, are on 16 points with a game to play, St Mary High are on 14 with one game to go, while Tacky are on 11 with two games to be played.

Daniel Green scored both goals for Marcus Garvey High in their 2-0 win at Cedric Titus to clinch their place after moving to 22 points in Zone I, two more than Brown’s Town High who beat Steer Town 3-0.

York Castle are still in the hunt for a berth after their 1-0 win over Ocho Rios high to move to 17 points.

Fair Prospect joined zone champions Port Antonio High from Zone L after a 2-0 win over Titchfield High to finish their schedule on 16 points.

Roshane Thomas scored all five goals for Happy Grove to flatten Buff Bay High in the other game.

Kemps Hill join former champions Vere Technical in the Inter-zone from Zone N after a 2-0 win over Foga Road High.

St James High rushed past Green Pond 4-0 at Jarrett Park to confirm their place atop Zone A with 14 points, two more than Cornwall College, who had finished with 12 points on Saturday.

Raheem Roberts scored twice for Paul Bogle High in their 4-0 win over Robert Lightbourne to win Zone O with 19 points with a game still to be played.

Green Island kept their hopes alive after beating Frome Technical 2-1 in Green Island to move into second place in Zone B on 10 points, three more than the losers who must now beat zone winners Rusea’s High on Saturday to advance.

The race in Zone E is now down to three teams after the top three all scored wins yesterday.

Lacovia High edged Maggotty 1-0 to stay in front on 19 points; St Elizabeth Technical avenged their loss to BB Coke, winning 4-0 to improve to 18 points as Michael Kerr scored twice, while Munro College are on 17 points after a 2-0 win over Newell High.

A similar climactic finish is anticipated in Zone G after Holmwood Technical’s lead was cut to a single point with three points separating four teams with one round of matches to go.

Holmwood was held 1-1 by Christiana (12 points) and inched up to 15 points while Spalding moved to 14 after their 2-1 win over Knox.

Alston are also on 14 points after beating Bellefield High 2-0.

— Paul Reid