MANDEVILLE, Jamaica — Defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) led four other former champions as they all made winnings starts to the Inter-zone round of the Inter-secondary Schools’ Sport Association/FLOW daCosta Cup football competition yesterday.

STETHS edged Holmwood Technical 1-0 at Manchester High, while Clarendon College beat Manchester High 4-1, Cornwall College blanked Cedric Titus 3-0, and Rusea’s High clipped another former daCosta Cup winner Godfrey Stewart 1-0. In another game, Dinthill Technical were 2-1 winners over Port Antonio High.

Tahjae Palmer’s 62nd-minute goal was the difference between STETHS and Holmwood Technical, while Lennon High beat Mile Gully 4-0 to take the lead in Zone Three.

Peter Lee Vassell scored twice — once in each half — to carry Cornwall College to their 11th-straight win of the season, beating Cedric Titus 3-0 at Jarrett Park.

Jourdaine Fletcher scored the other goals for Cornwall College, who lead Zone One on goal difference over Petersfield High, who beat Green Island High 2-1 at Frome.

Creighton Charlton scored twice as Clarendon College spanked Manchester High 4-1 in their Zone Four game, while Rusea’s High held off Godfrey Stewart High 1-0, also at Frome.

Dinthill Technical came from a goal down to beat Port Antonio High with goals from Kaheem Parris and Kimani Pryce.

Paul Bogle High were also winners, beating Kemps Hill High 1-0 in their Zone Eight game.

First-time Inter-zone qualifiers Little London and Steer Town Academy are to make their respective debut today when the first set of games in the Inter-zone continue.

Little London, who copped one of the two best third-place spots, will jump right in at the deep end as they are up against Garvey Maceo, who have not allowed a goal all season while topping Zone M.

Little London, who are having their best-ever season in the daCosta Cup, were denied an automatic spot on the last day of the regular season, losing to Petersfield High, who then went on to beat Maud McLeod and edge them by a point for second place in Zone D.

Steer Town started playing in 2013 and, up to last season, had won a total of five games. They matched that total this year as they finished second in Zone I to Ocho Rios High with 17 points.

Today they play Zone J runners-up, Brimmer Vale High in the first game of a double-header at Highgate.

Former champions Glenmuir High will take on Bog Walk, the last team to book their place, at Juici field while St Mary Technical will hope to continue their momentum when they take on Ocho Rios High in the second game at Highgate.

St Mary Technical earned just two points from their first four games, scoring just two goals in the process, before winning five of their next six games, scoring 10 goals to top Zone J.

Yesterday’s daCosta Cup results

Lennon 4, Mile Gully 0

Clarendon College 4, Manchester High 1

Holmwood Technical 0, St Elizabeth Technical 1

St James 0, Spot Valley 0

Cedric Titus 0, Cornwall College 3

Petersfield High 2, Green Island 1

Godfrey Stewart 0, Rusea’s High 1

Paul Bogle 1, Kemps Hill 0

Seaforth High 0, Vere Technical 0

Dinthill Technical 2, Port Antonio 1

Today’s games

1:30 pm — Glenmuir vs Bog Walk @ Juici Field

1:30 pm — Brimmer Vale vs Steer Town @ Highgate

3:30 pm — St Mary Technical vs Ocho Rios @ Highgate

3:30 pm — Garvey Maceo vs Little London @ Juici Field

3:30 pm — Lacovia vs Spalding @ STETHS

3:30 pm — Fair Prospect vs Alston @ Lynch Park