MALDON, St James — Former champions Cornwall College and Rusea’s High School will be seeking to pick up the pieces after losses on Tuesday when they return to action in the ISSA daCosta Cup competition on Friday.

Cornwall College surrendered a first-half lead to lose 2-1 to Irwin High in Zone A while Rusea’s High were outclassed 3-0 by Frome at home the same day.

On Friday, Cornwall College will travel to face a resurgent Maldon High School in a second-round game while Rusea’s High are away to winless Merlene Ottey High.

Also on Friday, Cedric Titus will go for a fourth-straight win in Zone C; Green Pond High will host Anchovy High, Green Island will play Hopewell High at Colin Miller Complex in Lucea and Spot Valley High and Herbert Morrison High will meet.

The following day, Irwin High will go after win number five when they take on St James High and Petersfield High will host Grange Hill High.

Cornwall College’s loss to Irwin High was their second this season, the first time since 2013 that they had lost more than once in the first round and the first time since 2008 that they had lost to Irwin High and fell to third place in Zone A.

Irwin High lead with a perfect 12 points, followed by Green Pond on seven points, then Cornwall College on six points, one more than St James High on five points and Maldon on four points.

All of Maldon’s points have come from their last two games, coming from behind with 10 men to earn a 1-1 draw from St James High then beating Anchovy High 4-1 on Tuesday.

Maldon’s win on Tuesday snapped a 16-game winless run that dated back to September 2019 and they will be bubbling with confidence when Cornwall College visits on Friday.

Chadrain Senior scored two goals for Maldon on Tuesday after rescuing them against St James High and is expected to lead them on Friday as they seek to add to their points tally.

Cornwall College were let down by their poor finishing on Tuesday, and even missed a last-minute penalty, the second this season. The likes of Braxton Richards, Mikhail Samuels and Dane Buckley must step up if the Montego Bay-based school is to secure a win on Friday..

Rusea’s were cruising with three wins and 16 goals before Frome Technical stopped them in their tracks on Tuesday and they will be eager to get back on the field against Merlene Ottey who they had beaten 7-0 in their first round.

Rusea’s are still tied for the lead with Frome who have played one game less and they should be able to maintain their top-two place with a win against a Merlene Ottey team that looks a tier or two below them.

Meanwhile, Cedric Titus have quietly gone about their business, winning all three games played but finds themselves in the long shadows of a barnstorming William Knibb Memorial team that has scored 18 goals in their last two games, hammering Herbert Morrison Technical 10-0 on Tuesday.

Cedric Titus can be the Zone C leaders on Friday evening with a win over a Muschett High team that has lost all three games played