SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Former champions Clarendon College and St James High both ensured their places in at least the semi-finals of the Ben Francis Knockout yesterday after scoring back-to-back wins in the quarter-finals of the ISSA/FLOW daCosta cup competition.

Two goals each from Nique Daley and Lamar Walker saw Clarendon College beat Spot Valley High 4-0 after St James High brushed aside Garvey Maceo High 3-0 at the St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, as both stayed atop Group One on six points each.

The results set up a winner-take-all game on Saturday with the winner qualifying for the semi-finals of the daCosta Cup as well as the first round of the FLOW Super Cup, while the loser will play in the first round of the Ben Francis KO.

Clarendon College, who were semi-finalists in three competitions last year but finished the season without a title, took their perfect winning streak to 12 games as they led 2-0 at half-time and avenged last year’s upset loss to the St James-based school.

Both Spot Valley and Garvey Maceo, who are now out of contention to advance, were losing back-to-back games for the first time this season after also losing their opening encounters in the quarter-finals last weekend.

Yesterday, Daley, who took his tally since the end of the first round to seven goals, scored in the 38th and 62nd minutes for Clarendon College, while Walker scored in time added on at the end of the first half and again in the 74th minute.

In the first game, Jowell Powell scored twice for the Theodore Whitmore-coached St James, who led 1-0 at half time, giving the 2008 champions the lead in the 38th minute.

Ackeem Smith doubled the lead in the 78th minute, while Powell added a third in the 81st minute to make the points safe.

— Paul Reid

Yesterday’s results

Group One

St James 3, Garvey Maceo 0

Clarendon College 4, Spot Valley 0