Three more schools, including former champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), booked places in the second round of the ISSA/FLOW daCosta Cup schoolboy football competition after contrasting wins yesterday.

Spot Valley High and St Mary Technical also secured spots to the second round.

STETHS edged Maggotty High 1-0 at home to improve to 20 points at the top of Zone E, while Spot Valley outgunned Muschett High 5-2 to move to 22 points in Zone C. St Mary Technical swamped Carron Hall High 7-0 in Zone J.

The trio join early qualifiers Manchester High, Dinthill Technical, Port Antonio High and Glenmuir High.

St James High and Cornwall College stay locked on points at the top of Zone A after big wins, while Petersfield High are back on top of the competitive Zone D. Zone G got even tighter after the top-of-the-zone clash between Alston High and Holmwood ended 0-0.

STETHS made their place in the second round certain after edging Maggotty High 1-0 with a goal from Damani Henderson. They lead Munro College by four points.

Munro, however, stay in second place and are a point from booking their spot in the second round. They rebounded from their loss to STETHS on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Lacovia, almost effectively ending the latter’s chances of taking an automatic qualifying spot.

Spot Valley continued their smooth sailing in Zone C after outscoring Muschett High 5-2, with Courtney Chisholm leading the way with a hat-trick. Andre Gardner and Rogewayne Thompson added one each.

Cedric Titus are in second place on 16 points after edging William Knibb Memorial 2-1, while Herbert Morrison beat Holland High 4-1 to stay in third place on 13 points.

Dontae Henry and Michael Grant scored two goals each for St Mary Technical as they spanked Carron Hall 7-0. St Mary race to 21 points in Zone J and are now only a point away from winning the zone.

The gap between second and third place closed to a point after Oracabessa inched to 15 points after a 0-0 draw with Brimmervale, while St Mary High are on 14 points after beating Iona High 4-0 with two goals from Jamar McIntosh.

St James High increased their goal-difference lead over defending champions Cornwall College after a 5-0 win over Irwin High. Cornwall came from behind to beat Green Pond 5-1.

Both are locked on 19 points, but St James has a goal difference of 20 to the champions’ 14. Both teams have two games remaining.

Anchovy High moved to third place after edging Maldon High 1-0, ending the losers’ chances of advancing.

Petersfield High moved past Little London into the lead in Zone D after edging Grange Hill High 1-0. They move to 16 points, one more than Little London, who were held 0-0 by Mannings School.

Two points now separate the top three teams in Zone G after leaders Holmwood Technical and Alston drew 0-0. Spalding High beat Troy High 3-0.

Holmwood are on 19 points, one more than Alston High, with Spalding now on 17 points.

Ocho Rios High’s freefall continued as they were edged 0-1 by Steer Town in Zone I.

— Paul A Reid