SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — The battle lines have been drawn for two mega clashes between four former champions in top-of-the-zone games as the ISSA/FLOW daCosta Cup schoolboy football competition continues today.

Munro College, who last won the title 53 years ago in 1964, have refused to play arch-rivals St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) under lights in Santa Cruz in their Zone E game at the St Elizabeth Technical High Sports Complex, while defending champions Cornwall College seek back-to-back season sweeps over St James High in Zone A.

In Zone E, where one point separates both teams, the game had originally been set to start at 6:00 pm under the newly installed flood lights at STETHS, but Munro College refused to play at that time, saying their players were not accustomed to the artificial lighting and that would give the hosts an unfair advantage.

The game has since been shifted up two hours earlier, starting at 4:00 pm, while Newell High and Maggotty High have gladly accepted the opportunity to play the 6:00 pm ‘feature’.

STETHS lead the points table with 14 points, followed by Munro College on 13, but it’s the visitors who will have momentum on their side, winning their last three games since they were held 0-0 at home by STETHS.

The hosts are coming off a 1-1 draw against Lacovia on Wednesday where both teams ended with 10 players, and last Saturday STETHS just edged last-placed Newell High 1-0 via an own goal in the first game under the lights at STETHS.

It has been contrasting results so far for both schools; STETHS started with a bang with 13 goals in their first two games, but have managed just four in their last four games.

Munro College, on the other hand, just held off Lacovia 3-2 in their opening game, then were upset 2-1 by Maggotty at home before the goalless draw against STETHS.

Since then they have scored 10 goals in three games and will have their tails up as they go after a win at STETHS for the first time since October 17, 2009 when current coach Hopeton Gilchrist was there in his first stint in charge of Munro.

Another battle royal is brewing at Jarrett Park where St James High lead on goal difference, with both teams locked on 15 points, and will seek to avenge their 1-2 loss two weeks ago.

Cornwall College followed up the win over St James High with a shock loss away at Maldon High, then struggled to beat Anchovy 1-0 at Anchovy on Saturday, but seemed to have righted the ship on Wednesday, scoring three times in the first seven minutes then cruising home against Irwin High at home.

St James have found goals easy to come by as after losing to Cornwall, they managed a 1-0 win over Anchovy at home, but then scored eight of their 18 goals in their last two games.

Shavon McDonald, who has taken over the scoring mantle at Cornwall, leads his team with seven strikes so far, Aiden Jokomba has scored in his last two outings, while Garnett Hudson finally scored on Wednesday.

Ewan Barton leads St James with five goals, but it is the skilful Tyrique ‘Hulk’ Clarke and Calwayne Allen, who could pose most danger to the Cornwall College defence.

Spot Valley High and Cedric Titus could move away from the rest of Zone C today of they can win against William Knibb Memorial and Holland High, respectively.

Spot Valley lead with 16 points, four more than Cedric Titus, but they have been dominant in the zone so far and are expected to continue, while Herbert Morrison Technical, who had their brief two-game win streak snapped on Wednesday, must win today against Muschett High, if they are to harbour any hopes of making it out of the zone.

Zones D and G look set to go to the wire with the teams tightly packed in the points tables.

One point separates the top three teams in Zone D with Little London on 11 from five games just ahead of Petersfield High and Manning’s School, who have both played one game more.

Little London will be away to Godfrey Stewart, who are coming off their first win earlier this week. Petersfield are at home to last-placed Black River High, while Manning’s School go to the Belle Isle Sports Complex to face Grange Hill.

The top two teams in Zone G are separated by a single point as Alston High lead with 16 and will play away to Christiana High, who are on six points. Second-placed Holmwood Technical are at home to first-timers Troy High, who they clobbered 10-0 in the first round.

TODAY’S GAMES

Zone A

Irwin vs Anchovy

St James vs Cornwall College

Maldon vs Green Pond

Zone B

Green Island vs Hopewell

Knockalva vs Cambridge

Frome vs Rusea’s

Zone C

Muschett vs Herbert Morrison

Spot Valley vs William Knibb

Holland vs Cedric Titus

Zone D

Petersfield vs Black River

Grange Hill vs Manning’s School

Godfrey Stewart vs Little London

Zone E

B B Coke vs Lacovia

Newell vs Maggotty @ STETHS @ 6:00 pm

STETHS vs Munro College @ STETHS @ 4:00pm

Zone F

DeCarteret vs Mile Gully

Belair vs Cross Keys

May Day vs Manchester

Zone G

Spalding vs Knox

Christiana vs Alston

Holmwood vs Troy

Zone H

Thompson Town vs Lennon

Claude McKay vs Clarendon College

Zone I

Ocho Rios vs Brown’s Town

York Castle vs Marcus Garvey

Zone J

Carron Hall vs Brimmervale

Oracabessa vs St Mary High

Iona vs St Mary Technical

Zone K

Bog Walk vs Ewarton

Guys Hill vs Dinthill Technical

Charlemont vs McGrath

Zone L

Titchfield vs Port Antonio

Fair Prospect vs Horace Clarke

Zone M

Foga Road vs Porus

Bellefield vs Denbigh

Zone N

Kemps Hill vs Central

Old Harbour vs Vere Technical

Garvey Maceo vs Bustamante

Zone O

Robert Lightbourne vs Yallahs

St Thomas Tech vs Paul Bogle

Seaforth vs Morant Bay