DaCosta Cup
MONTEGO BAY, St James — After varying periods of absence, four of the nine western Jamaica-based schools who advanced past the first round of the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football competition will be hoping to make an impact and get into the quarter-finals.
Anchovy High, the runners-up to Cornwall College in Zone A, are back after 19 years, and will be joined by Green Pond High, who are advancing for the first time since 2014, as a best third-place team.
The Trelawny-based William Knibb Memorial, who will play Petersfield High in an all-western match up at Frome today, are into the second round for the first time since 2013, two years longer than Manning’s School, who were last in the second round in 2015.
They will be joined by former champions Cornwall College, who are away to Munro College today; Frome Technical, who is away to Vere Technical also today, and Rusea’s High, as well as Cedric Titus High.
Today, Anchovy High will play their first-leg game against Alston High, while Green Pond takes on defending champions Clarendon College in a double-header at Cornwall College starting at 2:00 pm.
Anchovy High will be full of confidence after their best showing in the first round for years, amassing 20 points and losing only to Cornwall College.
They will face an Alston High team that won a competitive Zone G, but will have ‘home field’ advantage.
Green Pond did well to get into the second round and will face the might of the defending champions, who have won five-straight games after being held to a 1-1 draw in their opening game against Lennon High.
William Knibb have had a good season and will take on a Petersfield High team that ended their season with a big 7-1 win on Saturday.
William Knibb looked tired in their 3-1 win over Herbert Morrison on Monday, but top striker Cristojay Daley can tilt the game in their favour if he is allowed room to operate.